HISTORY 


OF   THE   CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 


CONQUEST  OF  CANADA 


IN    1776, 


FROM   THE    DEATH    OF   MONTGOMERY   TO    THE    RETREAT    OF    THE 
BRITISH  ARMY  UNDER  SIR  GUY  CARLETON. 


CHARLES    HENRY    JONES 

\\ 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PORTER    &    COATES. 

1882. 


TTfc. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1881 ,  by 

CHARLES  HENRY  JONES, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Printed  by 

Allen,  Lane  <t  Scott, 

Philadelphia. 


TO    THE    MEMORY 
OF   MY   GREAT-GRANDFATHER, 

LIEUT. -COL.    JONATHAN    JONES, 

AND   HIS  COMPANIONS   IN  ARMS, 
I    DEDICATE   THESE   PAGES, 

IN   WHICH 

THEIR  TRIALS,   SUFFERINGS,   AND   PATRIOTIC 
SERVICES   IN  THE  CAUSE 

OF  THE 

AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 
ARE   RECORDED. 


— * 

r 


PREFACE. 


OF  the  military  movements  on  the  Northern  frontier  during 
the  Revolution,  much  has  been  written  about  the  brilliant  cam 
paign  of  Montgomery  in  1775,  which  terminated  in  his  untimely 
death  on  the  last  day  of  that  year.  Much  has  also  been  written 
about  the  disastrous  campaign  of  Burgoyne  in  1777.  The  same 
attention  has  not  been  paid  to  the  events  of  the  intervening  year 
of  1776,  which,  though  less  striking  in  their  effects,  were  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  the  cause.  There  is  not  anywhere,  so  far 
as  I  am  aware,  any  detailed  account  of  that  long  and  severe 
campaign.  Its  salient  features  have  been  noticed  by  all  historians 
in  passing,  and  some  of  them  have  dwelt  upon  it  with  more  or 
less  minuteness,  but  I  have  nowhere  been  able  to  find  a  connected, 
reliable,  and  circumstantial  narration  of  all  its  interesting  and 
often  distressing  events.  Such  a  history  I  have  endeavored  to 
give  in  the  following  pages.  Another  object  I  had  in  their  prep 
aration  was  to  make  a  record  of  the  services  of  the  troops  of 
Pennsylvania,  whose  conduct  always  contrasted  favorably  with 
that  of  their  companions  in  arms  from  the  other  Colonies,  and 
yet  whose  achievements  have  never  received  that  recognition 
which  they  deserve. 

It  was  a  campaign  in  which  the  Pennsylvanians  of  that  day 
were  deeply  and  anxiously  interested.  Not  less  than  two 
thousand  of  their  fellow-citizens  were  actively  engaged  in  it, 
and  the  friends  and  relatives  they  left  behind  them  formed  a 
large  and  influential  part  of  the  community.  It  should  not, 
therefore,  fail  to  possess  interest  for  their  descendants  of  the 
present  generation. 

My  interest  in  the  details  of  this  campaign  was  first  awakened 
by  an  examination  of  the  materials  connected  with  the  military 

(v) 


VI  PREFACE. 

services  of  my  ancestor,  Colonel  Jonathan  Jones,  who  passed 
through  it  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.     He  was  of  Welsh 

extraction,  his  father,  David  Jones, 
having  emigrated  from  ^Merioneth 
shire,  in  Wales,  in  1721,  and  settled 
upon  the  Welsh  reservation  at  Rad 
nor,  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  that  clannish  people,  to  use  their  own  language,  "  desired 
to  be  by  themselves,  for  no  other  end  or  purpose  but  that  they 
might  live  together  as  a  civil  society,  to  endeavor  to  decide  all 
controversies  and  debates  amongst  themselves  in  a  Gospel  order, 
and  not  to  entangle  themselves  with  laws  in  an  unknown  tongue, 
as  also  to  preserve  their  language  that  they  might  ever  keep  cor 
respondence  with  their  friends  in  the  land  of  their  nativity." 

David  Jones,  with  many  of  his  countrymen,  removed  from 
Radnor  in  1730  to  the  valley  of  the  Conestoga,  in  Caernarvon 
township,  Lancaster  couuty,  where  he  became  an  extensive  land 
owner  and  iron-master,  and  where  there  are  old  mines  which 
still  bear  his  name.  Here  his  three  sons — John,  Jonathan,  and 
Caleb — were  born.  John  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  of  Berks  county,  in  1774,  and  a  major  in  Grubb's  battal 
ion  of  militia.  Caleb  was  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

Jonathan  Jones  was  born  in  1738.  He  was  appointed  a  cap 
tain  in  the  regular  Continental  army  October  25th,  1775,  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major,  after  active  service  in  Canada, 
October  25th,  1776,  and  to  lieutenant-colonel  of  his  regiment, 
which  had  become  the  Second  under  the  new  arrangement, 
March  12th,  1777.  His  constitution  was  so  shattered  by  the 
hardships  and  exposure  of  the  campaign  against  Canada,  that 
he  was  obliged  to  return  home  to  recruit  his  health  in  the  winter 
of  1776-77.  Having  partially  recovered,  he  rejoined  his  regi 
ment  in  the  spring  of  1777,  the  command  of  which  devolved 
upon  him  after  the  resignation  of  Colonel  James  Irvine,  June 
1st,  1777.  Two  companies  of  the  regiment  were  then  on  duty 
in  Philadelphia,  and  the  remainder  were  guarding  the  upper 
ferries  of  the  Delaware.  Increasing  ill  health,  however,  obliged 
him  to  resign  his  commission  in  the  latter  part  of  July.  In 


PREFACE.  Vll 

December,  1778,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Assembly  of  Penn 
sylvania  a  commissioner  under  the  test  laws,  and  he  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  from  Berks 
county,  which  sat  in  Philadelphia  from  October,  1779,  to  Octo 
ber,  1780.  His  health  continued  steadily  to  decline,  and  he  was 
shortly  afterwards  stricken  with  paralysis,  of  which  he  died, 
after  a  lingering  illness,  on  the  26th  of  September,  1782,  at  the 
early  age  of  forty-four.  He  was  buried  in  Bangor  church-yard, 
at  Churchtown,  of  which  church  his  family  had  been  wardens 
and  vestrymen  from  its  earliest  foundation. 

PHILADELPHIA,  November,  1881. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTEE  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

PAGE 

The  News  from  Lexington  and  Concord — The  Uprising  throughout  the 
Colonies — Mass-meeting  at  the  State  House,  Philadelphia— Organiza 
tion  of  Associators — Jonathan  Jones'  Company — The  Rev.  Thomas 
Barton  and  Bangor  Church — Initiatory  steps  for  Resistance  to  Great 
Britain — Major  Philip  Skene — Organization  of  the  Regular  Army — 
The  Six  Pennsylvania  Regiments — William  Irvine — William  Allen — 
The  Captains  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment — Col.  John  Bull — 
Col.  John  Philip  De  Haas — Lt.  Col.  James  Irvine — Major  Anthony 
James  Morris — The  British  Barracks  at  Philadelphia — Mounting 
Guard  at  the  State  House  and  along  the  Wharves — The  Uniforms  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Troops — Arrival  of  Martha  Washington  at  Phila 
delphia — Lord  Dunmore's  Movements  in  Virginia — Philadelphia  in 
the  Winter  of  1775-6 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

Solicitude  of  Congress  for  affairs  in  Canada — Schuyler  calls  for  Rein 
forcements — Congress  orders  the  First  Pennsylvania  and  Second  New 
Jersey  Regiments  to  Canada — William  Maxwell — Reinforcements  from 
the  Eastern  Colonies — March  of  Jonathan  Jones'  Company  for  Canada 
— Their  stay  in  Albany — Arrival  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New  York — 
Mutiny  at  Albany — Traversing  the  Frozen  Lakes — Distressing  Con 
dition  of  the  Army  before  Quebec — Small-pox  among  the  Troops — 
A  Futile  Attempt  by  Mr.  Beaujeu  to  Relieve  the  Garrison — Erection  of 
Batteries,  and  Opening  Fire  upon  the  Town — Arrival  of  General  Woos- 
ter  at  Quebec — Departure  of  Arnold 1(> 

CHAPTER  III. 

Congress  sends  a  Committee  to  Canada — Their  Journey  Thither — Return 
of  Dr.  Franklin  and  Rev.  John  Carroll — The  Supervision  of  the  North 
ern  Army — General  Charles  Lee  ordered  to  take  Command  of  the 
Army  in  Canada — The  Order  Revoked,  and  General  John  Thomas  sent 

(ix) 


X  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

in  his  stead — Further  Eeinforcements  for  the  Army  in  Canada — Cap 
tain  Ebenezer  Stevens — Colonel  John  Patterson — The  Change  of  Feel 
ing  on  the  part  of  the  Canadians  towards  the  American  Cause — Arrival 
of  General  Thomas  at  Quebec — Condition  of  Affairs  there — An  Unsuc 
cessful  Attempt  to  send  a  Fire-ship  into  the  Enemy's  Shipping — A 
Council  of  War  Resolves  upon  a  Eetreat — Arrival  of  the  British  Ships 
Surprise,  Martin,  and  Isis  with  Reinforcements — A  Sortie  by  Sir  Guy 
Carleton — Precipitate  Retreat  of  the  Americans— Aaron  Burr — Recov 
ery  of  Valuable  Papers  by  Captain  Jonathan  Jones — Merciful  Con 
duct  of  General  Carleton — A  Murder  in  Captain  Jones'  Company — 
The  Americans  endeavor  to  make  a  stand  at  Deschambault — A  Coun 
cil  of  War  determines  to  continue  the  Retreat  to  Sorel — A  Skirmish 
below  Deschambault — Mr.  Acklam  Bonfield — The  Retreating  Ameri 
cans  reach  the  Mouth  of  the  Sorel — Dr.  Senter  establishes  a  Hospital 
at  Montreal — Deplorable  Condition  of  the  Troops  at  Sorel — Death  of 
General  Thomas 33 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Arnold  Sends  Troops  to  the  Cedars— Captain  Forster's  Party  Attempts  to 
Dislodge  Them — Colonel  Bedel  abandons  his  Post — Major  Henry 
Sherburne  sets  out  with  Reinforcements — Delays  in  his  March — Dis 
graceful  Surrender  by  Major  Butterfield — The  Conduct  of  Bedel  and 
Butterfield  Condemned  by  Washington — They  are  Court-martialed  and 
Dismissed  the  Service — Disastrous  Defeat  of  Sherburne's  Party — Bar 
barous  Treatment  of  the  Prisoners — The  Loss  on  both  Sides— Indigna 
tion  throughout  the  Colonies  at  the  Ill-treatment  of  the  Prisoners — 
Arnold  sets  out  to  their  Relief — The  Commissioners  of  Congress  send 
the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  to  Reinforce  Arnold — They  purchase 
thirty  loaves  of  bread  for  them  in  Montreal — Forster,  advised  of  their 
approach,  Retreats — The  Pursuit — Arnold  demands  a  Surrender  of 
the  Prisoners — A  Council  of  War  decides  against  a  Surprise — An  Ex 
change  of  Prisoners  and  an  Armistice  agreed  upon — Retreat  of  Fors 
ter's  Party  above  the  Cedars 54 

CHAPTER  V. 

An  Attempt  to  recover  the  lost  ground  down  the  St.  Lawrence— Col.  St. 
Clair  is  sent  against  Three  Rivers — Waiting  impatiently  for  the  First 
Pennsylvania  Regiment — General  Wooster  Relieved — General  Sulli 
van  Assumes  Command  of  the  Army — He  sends  General  Thompson 
with  additional  Troops  to  join  St.  Clair — Captains  Jonathan  Jones  and 
Benjamin  Davis  join  the  force  under  General  Thompson  with  their 
Companies — Arrival  of  Resolutions  of  Congress — Additional  Rein 
forcements  of  Militia  and  Indians  ordered  by  Congress — The  Battle  of 
Three  Rivers...  66 


CONTENTS.  XI 

CHAPTER  VI. 

PAGE 

Sullivan's  Force  after  the  Battle  of  Three  Rivers — Condition  of  the 
Troops — Desertions— Fortifying  the  Post  at  Sorel — The  Retreat — 
The  Retreating  Americans  reach  Chamblee— Brunswick  and  Hessian 
Troops — George  III.  contracts  for  them  with  the  German  Princes — 
Departure  of  the  First  Detachment  for  Quebec,  under  Riedesel — 
Arrival  of  General  Burgoyne  with  British  Reinforcements— The 
British  Army  which  Ascended  the  St.  Lawrence — Pursuit  of  the 
Americans  up  the  Sorel  River — The  Americans  Burn  Chamblee,  and 
continue  their  Retreat  to  St.  John's — The  Sick  are  sent  to  Isle  aux 
Xoix — Arnold's  Retreat  from  Montreal — The  Americans  Retreat  to 
Isle  aux  Noix,  and  the  British  occupy  St.  John's — Congress  and 
Washington  reconciled  to  the  situation — Congress  inquires  into  the 
causes  of  the  disasters  in  Canada 80 

CHAPTER  VII. 

At  Isle  aux  Xoix — Distressing  Condition  of  the  American  Troops — 
Evacuation  of  Canada — Removal  of  the  Sick  to  Crown  Point — Massacre 
of  Pennsylvanians  by  the  Enemy's  Indians — Their  Burial  and  Epi 
taph — Retreat  from  Isle  aux  Xoix  to  Isle  la  Motte  and  Crown  Point — 
Encampment  of  the  Troops  at  that  place 92 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

General  Gates  Appointed  to  the  Command  of  the  Army — He  Arrives  at 
Albany  and  hears  of  the  Retreat — A  question  of  Command  between 
Schuyler  and  Gates — They  set  out  together  for  Crown  Point — Recon- 
noitering  Parties  are  sent  down  the  Lake — Capture  of  Captain  Wilson 
and  his  Men— Brigadier-General  Gordon  is  killed  by  Lieut.  Whit- 
comb — A  Council  of  War  Determines  to  Abandon  Crown  Point  and 
Remove  the  Sick  to  Fort  George — Remonstrance  of  Field  Officers — 
Washington  and  his  Generals  disapprove  of  the  Action  of  the  Coun 
cil — General  Sullivan  takes  offense  at  the  Appointment  of  General 
Gates,  and  Resigns  his  Commission — A  General  Hospital  is  established 
at  Fort  George— Removal  of  the  Sick — Their  Neglect  and  Sufferings — 
Removal  of  the  Army  to  Ticonderoga 99 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Ticonderoga — The  Pennsylvania  Troops  Occupy  and  Repair  the  French 
Lines— Baron  de  Wo?dtke — Composition  of  the  Army  that  Retreated 
from  Canada — Col.  Enoch  Poor — Division  of  the  Army  into  Brigades — 
Ship-carpenters  are  sent  up  from  the  Atlantic  Seaboard — Other  Me 
chanics  begin  to  Arrive— Mount  Independence  is  Cleared — Camp  Life 
and  Duties — Sickness  on  Mount  Independence — Colonel  JolmGreaton — 
Want  of  Mail  Facilities....  ..  108 


XU  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 

PAGE 

News  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence — A  Copy  is  sent  to  Burgoyne, 
with  a  Demand  for  the  Perpetrators  of  the  Barbarities  after  the  Cedars — 
Carleton  Eeturns  an  Offensive  Answer — Sectional  Animosities  be 
tween  the  Troops — Ordnance  and  Ordnance  Stores — Their  Removal 
from  Ticonderoga  by  Colonel  Knox — Court-martial  of  Colonel  Moses 
Hazen — Disrespectful  Conduct  of  General  Arnold — His  Arrest  Re 
quested,  but  Refused 118 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Terror  Created  by  the  News  of  the  Retreat — Measures  for  Raising  Re 
inforcements — Reports  of  Small-pox  interfere  with  Enlistments — Addi 
tional  Bounties  Offered — The  Militia  Rendezvous  at  Number  Four — 
New  Road  from  Mount  Independence  to  Rutland — Sufferings  of  the 
Militia  in  the  Wilderness — Reinforcements  retarded  by  innoculation  — 
The  Sick  required  to  disclose  under  oath  how  they  took  the  disease — 
Alarm  at  the  re-introduction  of  Small-pox  by  the  Militia — Disappearance 
of  Small-pox  from  the  Army — Arrival  of  Reinforcements  at  Ticonde 
roga — Formation  of  a  new  Brigade — General  James  Brickett — Wash 
ington  Orders  Three  of  the  Fullest  Regiments  to  be  Sent  from  Boston — 
Their  Arrival  at  Ticonderoga — A  Company  of  Mohican  Indians — Con 
struction  of  the  Jersey  Redoubt — Completion  of  the  Intrench ments 
about  the  French  Lines — Delays  in  the  Works  on  Mount  Independ 
ence — Colonels  Reed  and  St.  Clair  Appointed  Brigadier-Generals — 
General  James  Reed — Conflicting  Claims  of  Majors  Wood  and  Morris 
to  the  Lt.-Colonelcy  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment — A  Rest  from 
Unremitting  Labors — Court-martial  of  Deserters  and  other  Offenders — 
Cleanly  Appearance  of  the  Pennsylvania  Troops 128 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Work  on  the  Fleet  at  Skenesborough — A  mold  assigned  to  the  Command — 
Arrival  of  part  of  the  Fleet  at  Crown  Point — A  False  Alarm — Conflict 
of  Authority  between  General  Arnold  and  Captain  Wynkoop — The 
Fleet  sails  down  Lake  Champlain — Arrives  at  Windmill  Point — Posi 
tion  of  the  British  Army — A  Boat's  Crew  driven  from  the  Shore  with 
loss  of  Life — The  Fleet  cannonades  the  Wood,  which  occasions  a  False 
Report  of  an  Engagement  with  the  Enemy — Activity  at  Ticonderoga 
and  Albany  in  consequence  thereof — False  Reports  from  the  Mohawk 
Country — The  Fleet  ascends  the  Lake  and  anchors  behind  Valcour 
Island— Colonel  Edward  Wigglesworth — The  Row-galleys  join  the 
Fleet — Sickness  among  the  Ship-carpenters  at  Skenesborough 141 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Scarcity  of  Clothing  in  the  Army — Anxiety  occasioned  by  expiring 
Enlistments — De  Haas',  Maxwell's,  and  part  of  Wind's  Regiments 


CONTENTS.  X1U 

PAGE 

consent  to  remain — Movements  of  the  British  Army — Arrival  of  a 
second  detachment  of  Hessian  and  Brunswick  Troops — The  British 
Advance  up  the  Lake — General  William  Phillips — News  of  the  Naval 
Battle  received  at  Ticonderoga — Arrival  of  Arnold  with  the  remains 
of  the  Fleet  at  Ticonderoga 152 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Construction  of  the  British  Fleet — It  sets  sail  upon  Lake  Champlain — 
The  Naval  Battle  of  October  llth— Skillful  Eetreat  of  the  Americans- 
Viscount  Exmouth — Escape  of  part  of  the  American  Fleet — The  Naval 
Battle  of  October  13th — Surrender  of  the  Washington — Arnold  runs  his 
Vessels  ashore  and  burns  them — Ambushing  the  Bridle-path  to  Crown 
Point — Escape  of  Arnold  and  his  Men  to  Ticonderoga — The  loss  on  both 
sides — Lt.-Col.  Thomas  Hartley — Release  of  American  Prisoners — 
Carleton's  motive  for  releasing  them 161 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Occupation  of  Crown  Point  by  the  British  Army — An  Attack  on  Ticonder 
oga  expected — It  is  delayed  by  unfavorable  winds — The  Americans 
improve  the  time  by  preparing  for  it — New  Post  established  on  Mount 
Hope — Construction  of  a  Boom  across  the  Lake — Cutting  down  the  trees 
on  the  Crown  Point  Road — Wet  and  stormy  weather — Precautions 
against  surprise — Construction  of  a  Floating  Bridge  between  Ticonde 
roga  and  Mount  Independence — Provisions  for  the  Wounded — Scouting 
Parties— Gates  calls  for  Ten  to  Fifteen  Thousand  Militia— The  Lower 
Country  alive  with  the  movements  of  armed  Men — Arrival  of  New 
England  Militia  at  Ticonderoga — Scarcity  of  Provisions — Washington's 
opinion  of  Militia — Promotion  of  Lt.  Col.  Irvine,  Major  Morris,  Captain 
Jonathan  Jones,  and  Captain  Grier — Advance  of  General  Fraser's  divi 
sion  to  Putnam's  Point  under  the  guns  of  the  British  Fleet — General 
Simon  Fraser — An  attack  hourly  expected — Richard  Stockton  and 
George  Clymer — Their  comments  on  the  sufferings  of  the  Troops 173 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Alarm  Guns  Announce  the  Approach  of  the  British — The  Americans 
promptly  man  the  Fortifications — Landing  of  British  Troops  on  Three- 
Mile  Point — A  Reconnoissance  by  British  Gunboats — An  Assault  upon 
the  Works  imminent — The  British  Troops  retire  without  striking  a 
blow — Further  Suspense — Detachments  sent  by  Gates  to  "beat  up"  the 
Enemy's  advance  post — The  British  Army  Retreat  into  Canada — Gates 
Dismisses  the  Militia  and  Details  a  Permanent  Garrison  for  Ticonderoga 
— Departure  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  and  First  and  Second  New  Jersey 
Regiments — Their  March  Southward — Departure  of  General  Gates  with 


CONTENTS. 

Bond's,  Porter's,  Eeed's,  Bedel's,  Stark's,  Poor's,  Greaton's,  and  Patter 
son's  Kegiments — Their  March  to  Keinforce  Washington's  Army — De 
parture  of  other  Troops  from  Ticonderoga — Dispatches  for  General 
Carleton  which  fail  to  reach  him — Causes  of  the  Retreats— Heturn  of 
Burgoyne  to  England — Lt.-Genl.  John  Burgoyne — Washington  visits 
Ticonderoga — Conclusion 184 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

Portrait  of  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler  (Frontispiece). 

Portrait  of  Gen.  David  Wooster 28 

Portrait  of  Gen.  John  Thomas 52 

Portrait  of  Gen.  John  Sullivan 88 

Portrait  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton 112 

Portrait  of  Gen.  Horatio  Gates 140 

Portrait  of  Gen.  Benedict  Arnold 168 

Portrait  of  Lt.-Gen.  John  Burgoyne 194 


CAMPAIGN  FOR  THE  CONQUEST  OF  CANADA. 


CHAPTER   I.         ; J 

f  • 

INTRODUCTION. 

The  News  from  Lexington  and  Concord — The  Uprising  throughout  the 
Colonies — Mass-meeting  at  the  State  House,  Philadelphia — Organization 
of  Associators — Jonathan  Jones'  Company — The  Eev.  Thomas  Barton  and 
Bangor  Church— Initiatory  steps  for  Resistance  to  Great  Britain — Major 
Philip  Skene — Organization  of  the  Regular  Army — The  Six  Pennsylvania 
Regiments — William  Irvine — William  Allen — The  Captains  of  the  First 
Pennsylvania  Regiment — Col.  John  Bull — Col.  John  Philip  De  Haas — Lt. 
Col.  James  Irvine — Major  Anthony  James  Morris — The  British  Barracks 
at  Philadelphia — Mounting  Guard  at  the  State  House  and  along  the 
Wharves — The  Uniforms  of  the  Pennsylvania  Troops — Arrival  of  Martha 
Washington  at  Philadelphia — Lord  Dunmore's  Movements  in  Virginia — 
Philadelphia  in  the  Winter  of  1775-6. 

THE  courier  who  rode  through  the  country  with  the 
news  of  the  conflict  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  reached 
Philadelphia  in  the  evening  of  the  24th  of  April,  1775. 
Pie  found  the  colonists,  as  he  passed,  prepared  for  the 
issue.  Ten  years  of  unredressed  wrongs  had  gradually 
alienated  their  affections  from  the  mother  country.  It 
was  no  rash  or  impetuous  step  they  were  about  to  take, 
but  one  which  was  the  result  of  a  slowly-formed  and 
settled  conviction  that  they  would  have  to  give  up 
their  liberties  or  defend  them  with  their  blood.  The 
hearts  of  the  patriots  were  beating  in  solemn  anticipation 
of  the  crisis  which  they  felt  was  near  at  hand,  and  it 
needed  but  the  intelligence  that  forty-six  of  their  coun 
trymen  had  already  fallen  in  the  cause,  to  tell  them  what 
to  do.  The  uprising  which  followed  was  prompt  and 
general.  Israel  Putnam  leaving  his  plow  in  the  furrow 


2  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

in  Connecticut  and  riding  in  his  farmer's  garb  to  the 
camp,  and  John  Stark  hastening  forward  from  his  saw 
mill  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  were  but  conspicuous  types  of 
the  action:  of-  every  patriot  throughout  the  land.  Every 
where  there  was  a  resolute  rush  to  arms.  In  Philadel 
phia  the  :eixci:tement  was  intense.  On  the  following  day 
eight  thousand  people  assembled  in  mass-meeting  at  the 
State  House  and  resolved  to  form  themselves  into  com 
panies  of  Associators.  This  was  the  mode  of  organizing 
for  defense  which  had  prevailed  extensively  during  the 
late  French  war.  The  province  had  never  had  a  regular 
militia  law,  but  relied  upon  this  voluntary  mode  of 
organizing  for  defense  as  the  emergency  for  it  arose. 

The  startling  news  from  Lexington  and  Concord  was 
rapidly  spread  along  the  roads  leading  out  of  Philadel 
phia,  by  those  who  returned  home  from  the  city,  and 
soon  found  its  way  throughout  the  province.  Within  a 
few  days  thereafter  many  companies  of  Associators  were 
raised  in  the  different  counties  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
Caernarvon  township,  Berks  county,  and  the  vicinity,  a 
company  was  raised  by  Jonathan  Jones,  which  he  brought 
to  a  fair  state  of  discipline  before  the  month  of  May  was 
over.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Barton,  rector  of  Bangor 
Church,  and  missionary  of  the  venerable  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  preached  to 
them  upon  the  momentous  issues  of  the  hour,  as  did  the 
other  clergy  to  other  troops  in  different  parts  of  the 
province,  who  sought  their  advice  and  counsel.  Mr. 
Barton  had  had  the  cure  of  souls  at  Bangor  Church  for 
twenty  years,  and  the  people  were  much  attached  to 
him,  noted  as  he  was  for  his  learning,  zeal,  and  fidelity. 
At  this  point,  however,  their  paths,  like  the  paths  of  so 
many  others  at  that  time,  began  to  separate,  slightly  at 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  3 

first,  and  within  the  bounds  of  toleration,  but  soon  to  di 
verge  as  widely  apart  as  the  causes  of  the  crown  and  the 
colonies.  He  was  obliged  to  close  the  church  a  few 
months  later  because  the  people  would  not  allow  him  to 
use  the  liturgy  unless  he  omitted  the  collects  and  prayers 
for  the  king  and  royal  family.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Trinity  College,  Dublin,  and  came  to  America  as  the  mis 
sionary  of  the  society  in  1754.  In  1764  he  was  chaplain 
of  a  British  regiment.  In  1777  he  was  accused  of  being 
privy  to  a  conspiracy  to  destroy  the  public  stores  at  Lan 
caster,  York,  and  Carlisle,  and  with  carrying  on  corre 
spondence  with  the  enemy,  and  was  confined  to  the  limits 
of  the  county,  and  finally  to  his  own  house  at  Lancaster. 
In  1778  he  declined  to  take  the  test  oath,  and  was 
granted  a  pass  into  the  British  lines  at  New  York.  He 
afterwards  became  chaplain  to  a  British  regiment  in  New 
York,  and  died  May  25th,  1780. 

The  province  of  Pennsylvania  had  been  thrown  upon 
its  own  resources  by  the  articles  of  association  adopted 
by  Congress  in  October,  1774,  in  pursuance  of  which  the 
local  committees  of  safety  were  formed.  The  committee 
of  Berks  county  was  organized  at  Reading,  December 
5th,  1774,  with  Edward  Biddle  as  chairman  and  Dr. 
Jonathan  Potts  as  secretary.  Of  this  committee  John 
Jones,  brother  of  Jonathan,  was  a  member  from  Caer 
narvon  township.  This  measure  of  passive  resistance, 
which  prohibited  importation  and  discouraged  every 
species  of  dissipation  and  extravagance  by  their  virtue, 
honor,  and  love  of  country,  rapidly  brought  out  the  capa 
bilities  of  the  people  to  help  themselves.  Arms  were 
scarce,  but  gunsmiths,  of  which  there  were  many  in  the 
province,  were  employed  to  make  them  at  Philadelphia, 
and  nearly  all  the  interior  towns.  Even  as  far  west  as 


4  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

Bedford,  a  solitary  gunsmith  was  toiling  away  at  twenty- 
five  muskets,  or  "fire-locks,"  as  they  were  called  at  that 
time,  with  such  assistance  as  he  could  obtain,  and  a  sad 
dler  was  engaged  in  shaping  all  the  available  leather  he 
could  procure  into  cartridge-boxes.  Steps  were  also 
taken  to  import  arms,  gun-locks,  and  barrels.  No  sheep 
were  killed  in  the  province  until  after  they  were  sheared 
in  the  spring,  and  active  measures  were  taken  for  the 
manufacture  of  gunpowder. 

Philip  Skene,  a  British  major  on  half-pay,  after  whom 
Skenesborough,  at  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain,  was 
named,  and  who  had  lately  been  appointed  Governor  of 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  arrived  most  opportunely 
about  this  time  at  Philadelphia,  in  a  vessel  laden  with 
arms,  ammunition,  and  clothing  for  the  British  army. 
These  were  at  once  confiscated,  and  proved  a  most  ac 
ceptable  addition  to  the  limited  colonial  supplies.  Major 
Skene,  Lieut.  Moncrief,  and  Mr.  Lundy,  who  accompa 
nied  him,  were  placed  in  arrest.  Congress  at  once  ap 
pointed  a  committee  to  examine  their  papers,  the  mem 
bers  of  which  were  punctiliously  put  upon  their  honor  to 
conceal  whatever  of  a  private  nature  might  come  to  their 
knowledge  by  such  examination. 

The  Governor  and  his  fellow-prisoners  were  subse 
quently  released  upon  their  parole,  with  liberty  to  go 
anywhere  within  eight  miles  of  the  city,  between  the 
Delaware  and  Schuylkill,  upon  condition  that  they  held 
no  conversation  with  any  one  upon  political  subjects. 

These,  however,  were  but  the  initiatory  steps  which 
prepared  the  way  for  the  real  work  of  the  Revolution. 
It  was  conceded  that  a  regular  Continental  army  was  nec 
essary.  The  militia  were  well  enough  in  an  emergency 
and  for  local  protection,  but  for  sustained  movements 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  5 

in  the  field  against  the  disciplined  troops  of  Great 
Britain,  it  was  necessary  that  there  should  be  a  body  of 
regular  troops  under  the  control  of  Congress,  who  should 
be  dedicated  exclusively  to  the  duty  of  maintaining  the 
common  cause  of  American  liberty,  in  whatever  place 
their  services  should  be  required,  without  regard  to  colo 
nial  landmarks  or  local  necessities.  With  this  conviction, 
however,  went  the  abiding  prejudice  of  the  colonists 
against  standing  armies  as  constant  menaces  to  free 
government,  and  when  Congress,  in  June,  1775,  resolved 
to  raise  an  army  of  fifteen  thousand  men,  it  limited  the 
term  of  enlistment  to  a  single  year.  For  the  mischief 
done  the  cause  by  allowing  their  usual  foresight  to  be 
thus  shortened  by  prejudice,  it  is  but  necessary  to  recall 
the  distresses  of  the  American  army  as  these  terms  of 
enlistment  began  to  expire. 

Washington  was  made  Commander-in-Chief.  Four  ma 
jor-generals — Ward,  Lee,  Schuyler,  and  Putnam — were 
appointed,  and  eight  brigadiers — Pomeroy,  Montgomery, 
Wooster,  Heath,  Spencer,  Thomas,  Sullivan,  and  Greene. 
The  Pennsylvania  contingent  was  gradually  provided  for. 
Six  companies  of  riflemen,  afterwards  increased  to  eight, 
under  Col.  William  Thompson,  were  ordered  to  be  raised 
in  June,  but  it  was  not  until  October  12th  that  the  first 
regular  Pennsylvania  regiment  (then  called  battalion)  of 
infantry  was  called  out  by  Congress. 

On  the  25th  of  October  the  following  captains  of 
this  regiment  were  appointed  : — William  Allen,  Jonathan 
Jones,  William  Williams,  Josiah  Harmar,  Marien  Lamar, 
Thomas  Dorsey,  William  Jenkins,  and  Augustine  Willet. 
On  the  9th  of  December,  1775,  Congress  ordered  four 
additional  regiments  to  be  raised  in  Pennsylvania,  and  on 
the  2d  of  January,  1776,  appointed  Arthur  St.  Clair 


6  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

colonel  of  the  Second,  John  Shee  colonel  of  the  Third, 
Anthony  Wayne  colonel  of  the  Fourth,  .and  Robert 
Magaw  colonel  of  the  Fifth.  On  the  4th  of  January, 
1776,  Congress  ordered  still  another  regiment  (the  Sixth) 
to  be  raised,  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
a  few  days  later  appointed  William  Irvine*  colonel  and 
Thomas  Hartley  lieutenant-colonel  of  this  regiment. 
These  six  regiments  composed  the  Pennsylvania  Line 
until  the  army  was  re-organized  on  September  16th,  1776. 
when  it  was  increased  to  twelve  regiments.  Of  these  six 
regiments,  four — the  First,  Second,  Fourth,  and  Sixth 
— took  an  active  part  in  the  movements  against  Canada. 
The  other  two  (Shee's  and  Magaw's)  were  with  Wash 
ington's  army  at  New  York,  and  distinguished  themselves 
at  Fort  Washington,  November  16th,  1776. 

These  six  regiments  consisted  of  eight  companies  (of 
sixty-eight  privates)  each.  In  January,  1776,  William 
Allen  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  Second 
Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  St.  Clair.  He  was  the 
son  of  William  Allen,  Chief  Justice  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  brother  of  Andrew  Allen,  who  was  Attorney- 
General,  an  early  member  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  and 
member  of  the  Continental  Congress  from  Pennsylvania. 
Colonel  Allen  went  to  Canada  with  the  Second  Regiment, 
but  when  independence  was  declared,  he  resigned  July 

*  WILLIAM  IRVINE  was  born  in  Ireland  on  the  3d  of  November,  1741,  and  was 
a  surgeon  on  board  a  British  man-of-war  in  1754.  He  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania 
in  1764,  and  settled  at  Carlisle.  In  1774  he  was  a  deputy  from  Cumberland 
county  to  the  Provincial  Convention,  which  met  in  Philadelphia  July  loth,  1774. 
In  January,  1776,  he  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  the  Penn 
sylvania  Line,  in  the  Continental  army.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Three  Rivers, 
and  was  not  exchanged  until  May  6th,  1778.  He  was  appointed  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  by  Congress,  May  12th,  1779,  and  commanded  the  Second  Pennsylvania 
Brigade  until  the  fall  of  1781.  He  afterwards  rendered  valuable  service  on  the 
western  frontier^  with  his  headquarters  at  Pittsburgh,  and  was  a  member  of  Con 
gress  in  1793.  He  died  at  Philadelphia,  August  12th,  1804. 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  7 

24th?  1776,  and  put  himself,  with  his  father  and  brothers, 
under  the  protection  of  Howe,  at  Trenton,  in  December, 
1776,  at  a  time  when  the  cause  of  the  colonies  was  con 
sidered  by  the  faint-hearted  as  hopeless.  When  the 
British  army  occupied  Philadelphia,  Sir  William  Howe 
appointed  him  colonel,  and  authorized  him  to  raise  a 
regiment  of  loyalists  in  Pennsylvania.  At  the  time  of 
the  evacuation,  in  June,  1778,  he  had  only  succeeded, 
after  the  most  indefatigable  exertions,  in  raising  one 
hundred  and  fifty-two,  rank  and  file.  After  the  war  he 
went  to  New  Brunswick. 

By  the  promotion  of  Allen,  Jonathan  Jones  became 
the  senior  captain  in  the  regiment,  and  Benjamin  Davis, 
the  first  lieutenant  in  Williams'  company,  was  elected 
captain  in  Allen's  stead,  on  the  5th  of  January,  1776. 

Of  the  captains  who  entered  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  a  brief  sketch 
of  the  career  of  Jonathan  Jones  has  been  given  in  the 
preface.  Williams  became  major  of  the  Second  Regi 
ment  March  12th,  1777;  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Third 
June  28th,  1778,  and  resigned  April  17th,  1780.  Har- 
mar  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1753;  became  major  of 
the  Third  Regiment  October  1st,  1776;  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Sixth  Regiment  June  6th,  1777,  and  as  such  con 
tinued  in  active  service  throughout  the  war.  He  was 
adjutant-general  of  the  army  under  Greene  in  the  South, 
1781-2.  After  the  declaration  of  peace  he  became  lieu 
tenant-colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  troops  in 
the  Continental  service,  stationed  on  the  western  frontier, 
which,  at  that  time,  was  no  more  distant  than  the  Ohio 
river.  He  was  made  brigadier-general  July  31st,  1787, 
and  commanded  the  expedition  against  the  Indians  on 
the  Maumee  in  1790.  He  resigned  January  1st,  1792, 


8  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

and  died  August  20th,  1813.  Lamar  became  major  of 
the  Fourth  Regiment  September  30th,  1776,  and  was 
killed  at  the  massacre  of  Paoli,  September  20th,  1777, 
in  the  midst  of  the  British,  on  the  retreat.  His  last 
words  were  :  "  Halt !  boys  !  Give  these  assassins  one 
fire!"  when  he  was  instantly  cut  down  by  the  enemy, 
Dorsey  resigned  January  1st,  1777,  and  was  appointed 
paymaster  of  the  militia  of  Pennsylvania  on  the  13th  of 
August,  1777.  Willet  resigned  from  the  service  Janu 
ary  1st,  1777,  and  accepted  a  civil  appointment.  May 
10th,  1780,  he  became  major  of  the  Fourth  Battalion  of 
Pennsylvania  militia,  and  became  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  same  regiment  May  1st,  1783.  Jenkins,  who  was 
a  Philadelphian,  left  Ticonderoga  in  August,  1776,  a  few 
weeks  after  the  regiment  reached  there  from  Canada,  and 
resigned  September  6th,  1776.  Davis  resigned  his  com 
mission  of  captain  on  the  1st  of  January,  1777. 

There  was  nothing  in  the  service  which  could  appeal 
to  other  motives  than  patriotism  in  those  who  responded 
to  the  call  of  Congress.  The  pay  of  a  captain  was  only 
twenty  dollars  a  month,  with  three  rations,  and  the 
prospect  that  this  small  sum  would  be  paid  punctually 
was  by  no  means  encouraging.  The  active  operations  of 
the  army  at  that  time  were  under  Washington  before 
Boston,  and  under  Montgomery  in  Canada,  both  at  great 
distances  from  Pennsylvania,  and  neither  the  condition 
of  the  commissariat  nor  the  public  revenues  gave  promise 
of  even  the  necessaries  of  a  campaign. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  Congress  appointed  John 
Bull  colonel,  James  Irvine  lieutenant-colonel,  and  An 
thony  James  Morris  major  of  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment.  Colonel  Bull  was  a  native  of  Montgomery 
county,  and  had  been  a  captain  in  the  military  forces  of 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  9 

the  Province  in  the  French  War  of  1758.  He  was  also 
conspicuous  in  the  civil  and  military  affairs  of  the  prov 
ince  during  the  Revolution.  On  the  17th  of  January, 
1776,  the  officers  of  the  regiment  presented  a  memorial 
to  Congress,  preferring  charges  against  him,  which  were 
investigated  by  Congress,  and  resulted  in  his  resignation 
on  the  20th.  On  the  22d,  Congress  elected  John  Philip 
De  Haas,  of  Lebanon,  colonel  of  the  regiment  in  his 
stead.  This  officer  was  born  in  Holland,  about  the  year 
1735,  from  whence  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1750, 
and  settled  in  Lebanon,  Pennsylvania.  He  took  an 
early  part  in  the  military  affairs  of  the  province,  having 
been  made  an  ensign  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  in  the 
successful  expedition  against  Fort  Duquesne  under  Gen 
eral  Forbes  in  1758.  His  promotion  was  rapid  through 
the  grades  of  adjutant  and  captain  to  the  rank  of  major, 
to  which  he  was  appointed  June  9th,  1764,  and  assigned 
to  the  command  of  Fort  Henry,  in  Bethel  township, 
Berks  county,  which  was  the  chief  of  a  line  of  frontier 
fortifications  between  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna 
rivers.  From  there  he  marched  with  several  companies  to 
Pittsburgh  in  August  of  the  same  year,  where  he  joined 
the  army  under  Colonel  Bouquet,  and  marched  with  it 
towards  Sandusky  in  an  expedition  against  the  Dela- 
wares,  Wyandots,  and  Shawnees.  On  the  31st  of  July, 
1765,  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  at  Lebanon. 
Congress  appointed  him  a  brigadier-general  in  the  Con 
tinental  army  on  the  21st  of  February,  1777,  and  he 
commanded  a  brigade  in  Washington's  army  at  Morris- 
town,  New  Jersey.  He  was  afterwards  stationed  in 
Pennsylvania.  In  October,  1779,  having  retired  from 
the  army,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia  to  reside,  where  he 
died  of  gout  on  the  3d  of  June,  1786. 


10  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

Lieutenant- Colonel  Irvine  was  a  hatter  by  trade, 
whose  place  of  business  was  on  Second  street,  opposite 
Christ  Church.*  When  the  Revolution  broke  out  he  be 
came  captain  of  a  Philadelphia  company  of  Associators. 
He  was  made  colonel  of  the  Ninth  Regiment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Line,  under  the  new  establishment,  Octo 
ber  25th,  1776,  and  became  colonel  of  his  old  regiment, 
which  had  then  become  the  Second,  after  Colonel  De 
Haas  was  promoted.  He  resigned  from  the  regular  army 
on  the  1st  of  June,  1777,  and  on  the  26th  of  August, 
1777,  was  made  brigadier-general  of  Pennsylvania  mi 
litia.  On  the  5th  of  December,  1777,  Washington  sent 
him  with  six  hundred  men,  composing  the  Second  Brig 
ade  of  Pennsylvania  militia,  from  his  camp  at  Whitemarsh, 
to  skirmish  with  the  advance  parties  of  the  enemy 
under  General  Howe.  He  encountered  them  at  the 
foot  of  Chestnut  Hill,  and,  after  a  short  conflict,  in  which 
he  was  wounded,  his  troops  abandoned  him,  and  he  was 
taken  prisoner.  He  was  not  exchanged  until  the  1st 
of  June,  1781.  He  was  appointed  major-general  of 
Pennsylvania  militia,  May  27th,  1782,  and  filled  many 
important  civil  offices  under  the  State  government, 

#  The  following  reference  is  made  to  Colonel  Irvine's  trade  by  Major  Andre, 
in  his  poem  called  the  "  Cow  Chase."  General  William  Irvine  was  a  physi 
cian  : — 

"  Which  Irvine  'twas,  Fame  don't  relate, 

Nor  can  the  Muse  assist  her, 
Whether  'twas  he  that  cocks  a  hat, 
Or  he  that  gives  a  glister. 

"  For  greatly  one  was  signalized 

That  fought  at  Chestnut  Hill, 
And  Canada  immortalized 

The  vender  of  the  pill. 

"Yet  the  attendance  upon  Proctor 

They  both  might  have  to  boast  of; 
For  there  was  business  for  the  doctor, 

And  hats  to  be  disposed  of." 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  11 

among  them  that  of  vice-president.  He  died  April  28th, 
1819. 

Major  Morris  was  the  grandson  of  Anthony  Morris, 
Mayor  of  Philadelphia  in  1703,  and  first  cousin  of  Cap 
tain  Anthony  Morris,  who  was  killed  at  Princeton.  He 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1740,  was  appointed  Major 
of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  November  25th, 
1775,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  in 
the  same  regiment,  October  25th,  1776,  and  to  colonel 
of  the  Ninth  Regiment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Line  on  the 
21st  of  February,  1777.  He  shortly  thereafter  retired 
from  the  service.  On  the  20th  of  October,  1779,  when 
a  large  force  of  Pennsylvania  troops  was  raised  at  the 
call  of  Washington,  he  was  offered  the  position  of  Adju 
tant-General  of  the  State,  which  he  declined.  He  died 
at  Philadelphia  in  1831,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
one  years,  and  was  buried  in  the  Friends'  burying-ground 
at  Fourth  and  Arch  streets. 

On  the  llth  of  January,  Congress  ordered  the  First 
Pennsylvania  Regiment  to  the  barracks  at  Philadelphia, 
where  they  were  quartered  until  their  departure  for 
Canada.  These  barracks  were  built  by  the  British  after 
Braddock's  defeat,  and  enclosed  three  sides  of  the  square 
now  bounded  by  Second,  Third,  Buttonwood,  and  Green 
streets.  Along  the  Second  street  front  there  was  an 
ornamental  fence,  and  the  open  space  of  about  three  acres 
between  the  buildings  was  used  as  a  parade  ground. 
The  barracks  were  of  brick,  two  stories  high,  with  a 
balcony  throughout  their  entire  length  along  the  second 
story.  The  officers'  quarters  were  in  a  large  three-story 
building  on  the  Third  street  side,  where  the  Northern 
Liberties  public  school  now  stands.  The  barracks  were 
separated  from  the  city  by  a  low  marsh,  across  which 


12  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

Second  street  was  opened  on  a  causeway  which  ran  from 
them  to  the  bluff  on  the  south  side  of  PeggVrun  (now 
Willow  street).  It  was  about  twenty  minutes'  walk  from 
the  State  House  to  the  barracks,  and  the  people  of  the 
city,  of  all  ages  and  conditions,  whose  interest  was  with 
drawn  from  almost  everything  else,  and  concentrated 
upon  the  great  events  which  were  then  transpiring,  went 
out  to  the  barracks  frequently  to  witness  the  drilling 
and  parade  of  the  troops. 

Twice  a  day  detachments  were  marched  down  Second 
street  past  old  Christ  Church,  into  town,  with  fife  and 
drum,  to  mount  guard  at  the  State  House  (where  Con 
gress  was  then  in  session)  and  the  wharves  along  the 
river  front.  The  wings  and  yard  of  the  State  House 
contained  large  quantities  of  ammunition  and  artillery 
stores,  and  at  the  wharves  there  were  a  number  of  ves 
sels  and  such  materials  of  war  as  the  infant  colonies 
had  been  able  to  collect,  much  of  it  contributed  by 
private  citizens. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1775,  Congress  had  resolved 
that  the  cloth  for  the  army  "  should  be  dyed  brown,  and 
the  distinctions  of  regiments  made  in  the  facings."  The 
uniform  coats  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  were 
brown  with  buff  facings.  Those  of  the  Second,  Fourth, 
and  Sixth  Regiments  were  blue  ;  those  of  the  Second  and 
Sixth  had  red  facings ;  those  of  the  Fourth  were  faced 
with  white.  They  were  all  made  after  the  familiar 
Continental  pattern.  The  troops  wore  waistcoats,  knee- 
breeches,  and  stockings,  the  last  covered  up  with  leggings 
at  that  season  of  the  year.  They  were  also  provided 
with  mittens,  knapsacks,  and  haversacks  of  Russian  duck, 
and  wooden  canteens.  Each  man  was  also  armed  with  a 
tomahawk.  They  had  their  regimental  colors,  and  each 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  13 

company  its  drum  and  fife.  The  officers  and  men  wore 
their  hair  powdered  and  tied  up  in  cues,  and  shaved 
their  faces  clean. 

Martha  Washington  reached  Philadelphia  about  this 
time  on  her  way  from  Mount  Vernon  to  join  the  General 
at  Cambridge.  She  made  the  long  journey  in  her  own 
carriage,  with  four  horses  and  out-riders  in  livery,  accom 
panied  by  her  son,  Mr.  Custis,  and  his  wife.  The 
"Philadelphia  Troop  of  Light  Horse,"  an  organization 
still  existing,  and  the  officers  of  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  met  her  at  the  Schuylkill  ferry  and  escorted 
her  into  the  city,  where  she  remained  some  days,  and 
upon  her  departure  they  escorted  her  out  of  the  city  on 
her  way  to  New  York. 

Towards  the  close  of  November,  there  came  a  cry  for 
assistance  from  Virginia.  The  committee  of  Northamp 
ton  county  became  alarmed  at  the  movements  of  Lord 
Dunmore,  who  had  declared  martial  law  in  that  prov 
ince,  and  asked  assistance  from  Congress.  Lord  Dun- 
more  was  on  board  the  ship  William,  with  a  fleet  of  four 
ships,  carrying  from  sixteen  to  twenty-two  guns  each, 
and  a  number  of  sloops,  schooners,  and  boats.  The 
coast  was  at  his  mercy.  He  had  armed  two  hundred 
slaves  of  Norfolk  and  Princess  Anne  counties,  who  had 
joined  him  under  promise  of  their  freedom.  The  inhab 
itants  of  those  two  counties  generally  were  renouncing 
the  Colonial  authority,  and  returning,  by  new  oaths,  to 
their  old  allegiance  to  the  king.  The  peninsula  of  Acco- 
mac  and  Northampton,  across  the  Chesapeake,  with  its 
eighty  miles  of  coast,  and  its  navigable  rivers  and  creeks, 
was  particularly  exposed  to  Lord  Dunmore's  fleet.  Its 
harvest  had  just  yielded  half  a  million  bushels  of  wheat, 
which  was  much  needed  by  the  British  army,  then  closely 


14  THE   CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

besieged  by  the  Continental  army  under  Washington  in 
Boston.  The  slaves  outnumbered  the  whites  two  to 
one.  It  had  no  military  organizations,  and  its  people 
were  not  accustomed  to  bear  arms.  The  property-holders 
were  well  disposed  towards  the  cause  of  the  Colonies, 
but  they  hesitated  to  declare  themselves  without  the 
protection  of  armed  authority,  and  some  prospect  that 
the  cause  could  be  sustained.  They  were  not  able  to 
obtain  relief  from  the  western  shore  of  Virginia  with 
the  fleet  in  the  bay,  and  even  there  ammunition  was 
very  scarce.  In  this  alarming  state  of  affairs,  the  com 
mittee  (by  no  means  confident  that  they  would  not  be 
delivered  up  to  Lord  Dunmore  without  resistance)  laid 
their  situation  before  Congress,  and  Congress  immediately 
took  measures  to  procure  armed  vessels  for  the  destruc 
tion  of  Dunmore's  fleet,  and  on  the  4th  of  December  or 
dered  Jonathan  Jones'  company,  and  two  others  of  the 
First  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  to  march  immediately,  un 
der  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Irvine,  "  into 
Northampton  county,  Virginia,  for  the  protection  of  the 
association  in  those  parts,  and  for  the  defense  thereof 
against  the  designs  of  the  enemies  of  America." 

These  companies  were  not  as  yet  equipped,  however, 
for  this  expedition,  and  on  that  account  their  departure 
was  delayed  for  several  weeks. 

On  Sunday,  the  chimes  of  old  Christ  Church  were  dis 
tinctly  heard  at  the  barracks,  and  the  officers  of  the  regi 
ment  often  went  in  and  sat  in  the  cold  church,  where 
there  were  no  stoves,  to  hear  Bishop  White,  who  was  then 
assistant  minister  of  Christ  Church  and  St.  Peter's,  and 
the  Rev.  Jacob  Duche,  the  chaplain  of  the  first  Congress, 
preach. 

These  were  times  of  great  excitement  in  Philadelphia. 


CONQUEST    OF   CANADA.  15 

It  had  been  selected  as  the  capital  of  the  United  Colo 
nies,  and  became  the  temporary  home  of  their  represent 
ative  men,  the  weight  of  whose  presence  naturally 
strengthened  the  cause,  which  was  popular  and  powerful 
already.  Those  who  were  bold  enough  to  oppose  it  were 
treated  with  great  intolerance  by  the  mob.  They  carted 
Hunt  and  Kearsley  ignominiously  through  the  streets. 
Those  who,  from  prudence  or  hostility,  were  reserved  in 
their  conduct,  were  made  as  uncomfortable  as  possible. 
It  was  the  centre  of  Colonial  power,  and  of  communica 
tion  with  all  sections.  News  came  in  slowly  over  the 
wretched  roads,  but  when  it  did  come,  it  was  received 
with  avidity  by  the  crowds  who  assembled  at  the  inns  and 
coffee-houses.  The  newspapers  were  small  and  heavy, 
and  did  little  else  than  retail  a  few  items  of  general  news 
second-hand.  Lint-scraping  became  the  fashionable  em 
ployment  of  ladies  at  social  gatherings  called  for  that 
purpose.  Their  hands  were  also  apt  at  the  distaff  and  the 
reel,  and  the  yarn  spun  by  them  was  knit  into  stockings 
for  the  troops.  Business  of  every  kind  was  very  much 
depressed.  The  prevailing  topic  for  discussion  in  society, 
the  counting-house,  the  streets,  the  courts,  and  the  press, 
was  the  wrongs  of  the  Colonies,  and  the  measures  which 
were  then  rapidly  going  forward  for  their  redress.  There 
were  town  meetings,  and  the  battalions  of  Associators 
which  constantly  paraded  the  streets  added  to  the  mili 
tary  enthusiasm.  The  sound  of  martial  music  nearly 
always  filled  the  air. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Solicitude  of  Congress  for  Affairs  in  Canada — Schuyler  calls  for  Reinforce 
ments — Congress  orders  the  First  Pennsylvania  and  Second  New  Jersey 
Kegiments  to  Canada — William  Maxwell — Reinforcements  from  the  Eastern 
Colonies — March  of  Jonathan  Jones'  Company  for  Canada — Their  stay  in 
Albany — Arrival  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New  York — Mutiny  at  Albany — 
Traversing  the  frozen  Lakes — Distressing  condition  of  the  Army  before  Que 
bec — Small-pox  among  the  Troops — A  Futile  Attempt  by  Mr.  Beaujeu  to 
relieve  the  Garrison — Erection  of  Batteries  and  opening  fire  upon  the  Town — 
Arrival  of  General  Wooster  at  Quebec — Departure  of  Arnold. 

HOSTILITIES  had  begun  in  Massachusetts,  and  Washing 
ton's  army  was  closely  besieging  the  British  army  in 
Boston.  But  of  far  greater  solicitude  to  Congress  was 
the  situation  of  affairs  in  Canada.  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  the 
British  governor,  had  been  appointed  commander  of  the 
British  forces  in  Canada,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1775, 
and  had  made  an  unsuccessful  effort  to  induce  the  Cana 
dians  to  espouse  the  British  cause.  They  were  disposed  to 
be  neutral,  with  a  strong  leaning  toward  the  cause  of  their 
sister  colonies.  The  union  of  the  colonies  was  deemed 
imperfect  by  Congress  without  the  co-operation  of  Canada. 
From  the  beginning  to  the  disastrous  evacuation  of  that 
country,  Congress,  remembering  the  bloody  incursions 
which  the  French  and  their  Indians  had  periodically  made 
for  a  century  and  a  half  into  the  northern  provinces,  clung 
tenaciously  to  the  belief,  as  the  English  had  done  in  the 
French  wars  before  them,  that  the  freedom  and  repose  of 
the  colonies  could  never  be  secure  with  Canada  in  hostile 
hands  on  their  border.  To  this  end  Congress  had  sent 
Schuyler  to  occupy  it,  trusting  not  so  much  to  military 
conquest  as  to  friendly  persuasion  of  a  favorably-inclined 

(16) 


THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE    CONQUEST    OF   CANADA.  17 

people,  under  the  assurance  of  protection  by  armed  force  ; 
but  later,  when  the  chances  of  success  seemed  desperate, 
and  the  Canadians  became  estranged  from  the  cause,  they 
continued  to  strain  every  nerve  and  drain  every  resource 
for  its  conquest,  whether  by  friendly  or  hostile  means. 

Schuyler  became  ill  before  the  work  of  the  expedition 
had  fairly  begun,  and  was  obliged  to  return  to  Ticonde- 
roga,  when  the  command  devolved  upon  Montgomery. 

Early  in  December,  Montgomery's  triumphant  march 
was  arrested  by  the  walls  of  Quebec.  His  success  up  to 
that  point  had  been  so  easy  and  brilliant,  that  the  un 
expected  check  he  received  there  was  doubly  discouraging. 
Disappointed  in  the  escape  of  Caiieton  from  Montreal, 
when  his  capture  seemed  imminent,  his  troubles  seemed 
to  begin  with  that  event.  Caiieton,  disguised  as  a  Cana 
dian  traveler,  had  eluded  Montgomery's  batteries  and 
guard-boats  under  cover  of  the  night,  in  a  boat  rowed  by 
six  peasants  with  muffled  oars.  The  influence  of  his 
presence  afterwards  within  the  walls  of  Quebec,  and  the 
extreme  measures  of  discipline  adopted  by  him,  contrib 
uted  more  than  anything  else  toward  Montgomery's  failure 
and  death. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1776,  Congress  received  a  let 
ter  from  General  Schuyler,  who  commanded  the  Northern 
Department,  with  headquarters  at  Albany,  urging  them 
to  send  large  reinforcements  into  Canada.  "  Strain  every 
nerve  to  send  a  large  corps  of  troops  down  the  instant 
the  lake  is  passable,"  General  Montgomery  had  written 
to  Schuyler,  from  Quebec,  on  the  26th  of  December;  "it 
is  of  the  utmost  importance  we  should  be  possessed  of 
Quebec  before  succors  can  arrive ;  and  I  must  here  give 
it  to  you  as  my  opinion,  and  that  of  several  sensible  men 
acquainted  with  this  province,  that  we  are  not  to  expect 


18  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

a  union  with  Canada  till  we  have  a  force  in  the  country 
sufficient  to  insure  it  against  any  attempt  1/hat  may  be 
made  for  its  recovery."  Five  days  after  this  letter  was 
written,  the  attack  upon  Quebec  failed,  and  Montgomery 
was  killed. 

Congress  did  not  wait  until  the  "lake  was  passable," 
as  Montgomery  had  suggested,  but  responded  promptly 
to  General  Schuyler's  demand  for  reinforcements.  On 
the  8th  of  January  they  revoked  the  order  for  the  three 
companies  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  to  march 
into  Virginia,  and  ordered  the  whole  of  the  regiment,  and 
Colonel  William  Maxwell's*  Second  New  Jersey  Regiment 
to  march  immediately  to  Canada.  The  fate  of  Montgom 
ery's  army  and  his  death  were  not  known  in  Philadel 
phia  until  the  17th.  The  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
was  delayed  in  marching  long  enough,  however,  to  learn 
that  news,  which  cast  such  a  deep  shadow  of  gloom  over 
the  colonies,  and  the  nature  of  the  errand  on  which  they 
were  going.  The  remnant  of  Montgomery's  army  be 
fore  Quebec,  when  these  orders  were  given,  did  not  exceed 
seven  hundred  men,  and  with  that  little  force  Benedict 
Arnold,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  command,  was  keeping 
up  the  siege  until  reinforcements  should  arrive. 

The  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  was  ordered  to 
march  by  companies,  one  day  apart;  but  there  was  so 

*  WILLIAM  MAXWELL  had  been  in  military  service  since  the  French  War  of 
1758.  He  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  Second  New  Jersey  Eegiment  in  the 
Continental  army,  November  7th,  1775,  and  was  made  Brigadier-General  by 
Congress,  October  23d,  1776.  He  commanded  a  brigade  in  Washington's  army 
at  Morristown.  He  also  commanded  the  Light  Infantry  at  the  Battle  of  Brandy- 
wine,  and  was  the  first  to  engage  the  vanguard  of  the  enemy  on  the  west  side  of 
Chadd's  Ford.  He  was  at  the  Battle  of  Germantown,  and  with  the  army  at  Val 
ley  Forge.  After  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia,  his  were  the  first  troops  de 
tached  by  Washington  to  harass  the  march  of  the  enemy.  He  was  conspicuous 
for  his  gallantry  at  the  Battle  of  Monmouth.  He  resigned  his  commission  on  the 
25th  of  July,  1780,  and  died  November  12th,  1798. 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  19 

much  unavoidable  delay  in  fitting  them  out  for  so  long 
and  severe  a  journey,  that  Congress,  on  the  19th  of  Jan 
uary,  ordered  such  companies  as  were  ready  to  proceed 
without  further  delay.  As  it  was,  it  was  necessary  for 
the  committee  to  go  around  the  city  of  Philadelphia  from 
house  to  house  in  order  to  procure  from  the  inhabitants 
the  necessary  blankets  for  the  use  of  the  troops. 

The  failure  of  the  attack  upon  Quebec  and  the  death 
of  the  lamented  Montgomery  had  put  a  new  phase  upon 
the  condition  of  affairs  in  Canada.  Washington,  who 
had  heretofore  been  sanguine  of  important  results  from 
the  expedition,  and  had  watched  every  movement  with 
the  greatest  interest  and  solicitude,  now  began  to  har 
bor  forebodings  of  the  most  disastrous  consequences, 
not  only  to  the  colonial  cause  in  Canada,  but  to  the 
province  of  New  York,  whose  geographical  position  be 
tween  the  eastern  and  southern  provinces  made  it  a  most 
important  link  in  the  chain  of  colonies. 

Schuyler,  in  his  letter  to  Washington  announcing  the 
fall  of  Montgomery,  proposed  that  he  should  send  with 
all  possible  dispatch  a  reinforcement  of  three  thousand 
men  from  his  army  into  Canada  by  the  way  of  Onion 
river  and  Lake  Champlain.  But  recruiting  in  Washing 
ton's  army  was  so  slow  after  his  first  army  had  been 
dissolved,  that  it  was  even  necessary  to  call  out  five 
thousand  militia  to  protect  his  own  lines,  and  the  greater 
part  of  these  had  gone  home.  He  was  far  from  being 
in  a  condition,  therefore,  to  send  troops  to  Canada.  "In 
short,"  he  replied  to  General  Schuyler,  on  the  18th  of 
January,  from  Cambridge,  "I  have  not  a  man  to  spare." 
But  in  view  of  the  necessity  for  prompt  action  in  Cana 
dian  affairs,  he  called  a  council  of  general  officers,  which 
was  attended  by  John  Adams  and  other  members  of  the 


20  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

General  Court  of  Massachusetts.  This  council  deter 
mined  to  call  upon  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  and 
Connecticut  for  one  regiment  each  of  Continental  troops 
for  service  in  Canada,  to  be  enlisted  for  one  year.  In 
order  to  avoid  expense,  it  was  resolved  that  the  three 
regiments  for  Canada  should  be  taken  from  the  thirteen 
regiments  of  militia  which  the  neighboring  colonies  had 
been  requested  to  furnish  Washington  with,  by  a  council 
of  war  held  two  days  before,  to  serve  until  April  1st,  in 
order  that  "a  bold  attempt  to  conquer  the  ministerial 
troops  in  Boston"  might  be  made.  The  three  colonies 
responded  promptly  to  Washington's  call  for  troops  for 
Canada.  New  Hampshire  furnished  a  regiment  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Timothy  Bedel,  Massachusetts  a 
regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Elisha  Porter,  and  Con 
necticut  a  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Charles  Bur- 
rell.  Indeed,  the  requisition  upon  Connecticut  had  been 
anticipated  by  that  province.  As  soon  as  Governor 
Trumbull  received  intelligence  of  the  repulse  at  Quebec, 
he  convened  the  Council  of  Safety,  and  they  promptly 
resolved  to  raise  a  regiment  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
men  to  reinforce  the  army  in  Canada. 

Congress  subsequently  approved  of  Washington's 
course  in  this  matter,  and  commended  him  highly  for 
the  zeal  and  prudence  displayed  in  his  prompt  action. 
They  also  directed  that  the  thirteen  regiments  of  militia 
for  the  army  at  Cambridge  should  not  be  dismissed,  but 
that  the  three  regiments  for  Canada  should  be  raised  in 
addition  to  them,  and  the  Continental  army  increased  to 
that  extent. 

With  the  sending  of  these  reinforcements  Washington's 
hopes  for  the  cause  in  Canada  revived,  and  he  again 
appeared  confident  that  the  city  of  Quebec  would  fall 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  21 

into  the  possession  of  the  Americans,  and  the  entire  con 
quest  of  Canada  be  completed  during  the  winter. 

On  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  January  23d,  1776,  Jona 
than  Jones  began  his  long  march  of  six  hundred  miles 
with  his  company  of  eighty-three  men.*  The  weather 
was  intensely  cold.  The  winter  was  one  of  great  sever 
ity.  The  snow  at  Quebec,  which  was  their  destination, 
was  then  six  feet  deep.  They  marched  in  high  spirits 
to  the  music  of  their  fife  and  drum,  amid  the  cheers  and 
parting  salutations  of  the  people,  who  were  gathered 
along  the  road  to  witness  their  departure.  They  had 
one  baggage  wagon,  but  no  tents,  and  depended  upon 
such  lodgings  and  provisions  as  their  quartermaster, 
Jacob  Shallus,  who  had  preceded  them,  could  procure 
on  the  road.  General  Charles  Lee  wrote  from  New 
York  to  Washington,  at  Cambridge,  that  they  were 
"good  and  strong  in  numbers." 

A  journey  to  Canada  at  that  early  day  was  an  arduous 
undertaking  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances.  In 
midwinter  it  was  terrible.  The  roads  were  bad  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  way  was  through  a  wilderness  which 
was  uninhabitable  at  that  season  of  the  year.  Even  the 
best  parts  of  the  country  were  but  sparsely  settled,  and 
afforded  very  limited  accommodation  for  so  large  a  body 
of  men. 

They  marched  through  Germantown  and  Chestnut  Hill 
to  Bethlehem,  and  from  thence  to  Easton,  where  they 
crossed  the  Delaware  on  the  ice,  and  took  the  eastern 
most  route  to  the  Hudson,  through  Oxford,  Walpack, 
Sussex  Court-House,  Goshen,  and  Wallkill,  seeking  such 
shelter  as  the  thinly-settled,  uncultivated  country  afforded, 

*  Williams',  Dorsey's,  Jenkins',  and  Davis'  companies  followed  Avithin  a  week. 
Harmar's,  Lam-ar's,  and  Willet's  companies  did  not  march  until  spring. 


22  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

and  bivouacking  under  the  protection  of  the  pitfe  forests, 
when  they  could  find  none. 

From  Goshen,  in  New  York,  the  lower  counties  of 
Orange  and  Ulster  transported  them  on  sleds  to  Albany, 
at  the  public  expense.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  relief 
thus  afforded  them,  they  could  not  have  made  the  march 
without  greatly  increased  suffering  to  the  men  and  seri 
ous  loss  to  the  service.  As  it  was,  they  made  the  ardu 
ous  journey  from  Philadelphia  to  Albany  in  the  short 
space  of  eleven  days.  Their  shoes,  moccasins,  and  mit 
tens  were  worn  out,  and  their  arms  rendered  unfit  for 
use  by  exposure.  They  reported  to  General  Schuyler, 
one  of  the  most  sagacious  and  patriotic  officers  of  the 
Revolution,  distinguished  alike  for  the  best  qualities  of  a 
soldier  and  a  man,  who  when  twice  removed  from  his 
command  through  sectional  jealousy  and  intrigue,  was 
able  to  bear  the  unmerited  indignity  with  patience.  "  I 
am  incapable"  said  he,  "  of  sacrificing  my  country  to  a 
resentment,  however  just;  and  I  trust  I  shall  give  an 
example  of  what  a  good  citizen  ought  to  do  when  he  is 
in  my  situation."  Whether  in  or  out  of  authority  he 
continued  untiring  in  his  efforts  for  the  cause  of  his 
countrymen,  willing  to  trust  his  fame  to  them  and  their 
posterity.  Time  has  richly  rewarded  his  forbearance. 
The  motives  of  his  detractors  have  long  since  been  fully 
understood,  and  as  the  fame  of  Schuyler  has  increased, 
theirs  have  paled  before  it. 

These  troops  were  obliged  to  remain  in  Albany  for 
several  days  until  they  were  refitted  with  the  necessary 
articles  they  required,  as  well  as  General  Schuyler's  lim 
ited  stores  would  permit.  Albany  was  then  a  small  town 
with  less  than  three  thousand  inhabitants,  who  still 
spoke  the  Dutch  of  their  ancestors,  and  very  little 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  23 

English.  The  houses  were  built  as  is  the  fashion  in  Hol 
land,  with  their  gables  toward  the  street.  During  their 
short  sojourn  at  Albany,  refugees  from  the  city  of  New 
York  reached  there  with  intelligence  that  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  had  arrived  there  from  Boston.  Tryon,  the 
British  governor  of  New  York,  had  already  taken  up 
his  quarters  on  board  a  British  man-of-war  in  the  harbor, 
and  between  the  two,  it  was  expected  by  the  panic- 
stricken  inhabitants  that  the  city  would  soon  share  the 
fate  of  Falmouth  and  Norfolk.  Clinton's  departure 
from  Boston,  however,  had  been  anticipated  by  Washing 
ton,  who  detached  General  Lee  with  instructions  to  raise 
troops  in  Connecticut,  proceed  to  New  York,  and  frus 
trate  any  designs  which  Sir  Henry  might  have  on  that 
place.  Sir  Henry,  not  encouraged  probably  by  his  sur 
vey  of  the  situation,  disclaimed  any  intention  of  attack 
ing  the  town,  and  withdrew  as  he  had  come  leaving  them 
unmolested. 

The  companies  of  Captains  Jones,  Dorsey,  Davis,  Wil 
liams,  and  Jenkins,  with  Lieu.  Col.  Irvine,  and  Major 
Morris,  were  all  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
that  reached  Albany  in  time  to  cross  the  lakes  before  the 
ice  began  to  break  up.  The  remaining  three  companies, 
with  Colonel  De  Haas,  and  the  rifle  company  of  Captain 
John  Nelson,  which  was  also  attached  to  the  regiment, 
were  delayed  until  spring,  and  did  not  reach  Canada 
until  the  last  of  April,  too  late  to  join  the  army  before 
Quebec. 

The  foretaste  of  the  hardships  of  war  which  their 
bleak  and  inhospitable  march  to  Albany  had  given  the 
First  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  was  too  much  for  some  of 
the  more  unruly  spirits  among  them.  As  they  looked 
forward  from  their  comparative  comfort  at  Albany  to  the 


24  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

still  greater  hardships  that  were  before  them  Jn  the  wil 
derness  and  on  the  frozen  lakes  beyond,  murmurings  of 
discontent  arose  from  some  of  the  men,  which  soon  broke 
out  into  open  mutiny.  In  addition  to  the  privations  and 
sufferings  of  their  march,  they  justly  complained  that 
their  pay  was  withheld  from  them.  General  Schuyler, 
who  was  a  rigid  disciplinarian,  caused  them  to  be  im 
mediately  placed  under  arrest,  tried  the  ringleaders  by 
court-martial,  and  promptly  punished  them. 

Biscuits  and  hard  bread  were  baked  at  Fort  George 
and  Ticonderoga,  in  anticipation  of  their  coming,  and  pork 
was  dressed  and  put  in  a  portable  shape,  for  they  could 
expect  nothing  on  the  way  which  they  did  not  carry  with 
them. 

By  the  middle  of  February,  they  set  out  from  Albany. 
At  this  time  there  were  no  roads  on  either  side  of  Lake 
Champlain.  The  country  on  the  western  shore  was  an 
uninhabited  wilderness,  and  there  were  but  few  settle 
ments  to  the  east. 

The  main  highway  from  the  south  into  Canada  was  up 
the  Hudson  and  over  Lakes  George  and  Champlain.  Cani- 
aderi-Guarunte,  "the  lake  that  is  the  gate  of  the  country," 
was  the  expressive  name  by  which  the  latter  was  known 
in  the  Indian  tongue.  These  lakes  were  traversed  by  the 
troops  over  the  ice  during  the  severe  winter  months,  and 
in  boats  at  other  seasons  of  the  year.  The  boats  used 
by  them  were  thirty-six  feet  long  and  eight  feet  wide, 
drawing  about  one  foot  of  water  when  loaded,  and  carry 
ing  from  thirty  to  forty  men  each.  They  were  rowed  by 
the  soldiers,  and  were  provided  with  a  mast  to  which  a 
blanket  might  be  fixed  if  the  wind  was  favorable.  All 
communication  was  cut  off  while  the  ice  was  forming  in 
the  early  winter  and  while  it  was  breaking  up  in  the 
early  spring. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  25 

Sleds  were  provided  by  the  committee  of  Albany  to 
carry  the  companies  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
on  the  ice  up  the  Hudson,  which  often  served  the  double 
purpose  of  transportation  by  day,  and  bedsteads  during 
the  long  February  nights.  They  passed  within  sight  of 
Schuyler's  baronial  mansion,  which  was  burned  by  Bur- 
goyne  in  his  retreat  the  following  year.  At  the  ruins  of 
Fort  Edward,  they  found  comfortable  accommodations  in 
a  large  inn  for  the  night,  but  this,  and  Wing's  tavern 
seven  miles  further  north,  and  the  rough  barracks  which 
had  been  erected  inside  the  ruins  of  Fort  George  on  the 
lake  of  that  name,  afforded  the  exceptional  instances  of 
shelter  by  day  or  by  night. 

At  Wing's  tavern  (now  Glens  Falls)  they  took  final 
leave  of  the  Hudson,  and  crossed  through  the  snow  to 
the  head  of  Lake  George.  The  distance  was  only  eight 
miles,  but  it  lay  through  a  dense  pine  forrest,  and  was 
accomplished  with  suffering  and  considerable  difficulty. 
At  its  end  they  stood  on  an  eminence  with  the  grand 
scenery  of  the  ice-bound  lake  below  them. 

They  slept  that  night  in  the  rude  barracks  of  Fort 
George,  which  had  been  hastily  constructed  of  rough 
planks  inside  the  ruined  walls  of  the  fort;  and  in  the 
early  morning  of  the  following  day,  they  continued  their 
journey  in  high  spirits  over  the  frozen  lake,  part  of  the 
time  in  their  sleds,  and  part  on  foot,  to  quicken  the  circu 
lation  of  the  blood  when  they  were  benumbed  by  the  cold. 

From  the  landing-place  at  the  foot  of  Lake  George  they 
took  the  short  road  of  three  and  a  half  miles  to  Lake 
Champlain,  crossing  the  strait  which  unites  the  two  lakes 
on  a  bridge  below  the  waterfall  (which  was  hedged  in 
with  banks  of  frozen  spray),  and  ascending  the  hill  be 
yond  to  the  old  French  lines,  where  remnants  of  the  logs 


26  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

still  remained  that  had  been  saturated  with  the  blood  of 
Abercrombie's  men  eighteen  years  before.  This  spot 
became  familiar  to  them  under  different  auspicies,  a  few 
months  later,  as  we  shall  see  in  a  subsequent  chapter. 
The  ruins  of  old  Fort  Ticonderoga  stood  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  below  in  full  view,  to  their  left — used  then  only  as 
a  magazine  for  military  stores — and  over  its  crumbled 
ramparts  they  obtained  their  first  view  of  the  milder 
scenery  of  Lake  Champlain. 

The  remainder  of  their  journey  was  made  on  foot.  It 
was  difficult  to  obtain  sleds  for  the  long  journey  into 
Canada,  on  account  of  the  great  scarcity  of  forage  for 
the  horses  and  oxen,  and  the  few  that  could  be  obtained 
were  required  for  the  transportation  of  cannon  and  pro 
visions.  Sufficient  oxen  could  not  even  be  procured,  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  forage,  to  transport  cannon  on 
the  27th  of  March  from  Half  Moon  to  Fort  George. 

It  was  an  inhospitable,  inclement,  and  inglorious  region. 
Lafayette  wrote  of  it  two  years  later,  when  he  had  been 
assigned  to  the  command  of  an  expedition  against 
Canada: — "Lake  Champlain  is  too  cold  for  producing 
the  least  bit  of  laurel ;  and  if  I  am  not  starved,  I  shall 
be  as  proud  as  if  I  had  gained  three  battles." 

Despite  their  discouraging  surroundings  they  contin 
ued  their  march  in  high  spirits  over  the  ice  and  snow  of 
the  lake,  for  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  to  St.  John's, 
on  the  Sorel  river,  keeping  close  to  the  western  shore, 
and  facing  the  bitter  winds  which  blew  up  the  lake  with 
out  resistance  from  the  North.  Their  ranks  were  thinned 
by  desertion  and  disease.  Their  arms  and  accoutrements 
were  sadly  the  worse  for  wear  and  exposure.  In  addi 
tion  to  their  bodily  sufferings  they  were  struggling  against 
the  mental  depression  which  was  then  settling  down 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  27 

upon  all  who  were  friendly  to  the  cause,  occasioned 
partly  by  the  reverses  in  Canada  which  they  were  then 
marching  to  retrieve,  partly  by  the  machinations  of  the 
Tories  in  New  York  from  which  they  had  just  come,  and 
partly  by  the  long  inaction  of  the  Continental  army  be 
fore  Boston. 

On  the  lake  they  passed  Captain  Marinus  Willett  on 
his  way  to  Albany,  in  charge  of  a  number  of  British 
officers  and  their  families,  who  had  been  taken  prisoners 
by  Montgomery. 

The  officers  found  shelter  for  the  first  night  at  Faris', 
on  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  below  Crown  Point,  and 
later  at  McCaully's ;  but  generally,  as  the  long  winter 
nights  closed  in  upon  them,  they  kindled  fires  upon  the 
shore  with  hemlock  branches,  constructed  rough  tents, 
and  made  their  beds  with  the  same  materials.  They 
were  grateful  even  for  this  rude  hospitality  of  the  forest, 
and  slept  well  after  their  fatiguing  march.  After  they 
passed  Cumberland  Head,  the  ground  became  low,  and 
even  the  comfort  of  cedars  and  hemlock  trees  was  denied 
them.  They  were  entirely  without  shelter  until  they 
entered  the  Sorel  river,  where  they  obtained  refreshment 
at  a  poor  inn  then  known  as  Stodd's  tavern. 

At  length  they  reached  St.  John's,  where  the  soldiers 
were  quartered  in  the  barracks  which  Montgomery  had 
taken  from  the  British  garrison  in  the  preceding  Sep 
tember.  The  officers  crossed  the  river  to  a  tavern  kept 
by  a  French  woman  named  Donaho,  who,  upon  learning 
that  they  were  from  Pennsylvania,  had  many  inquiries 
to  make  after  her  husband,  who  was  then  a  prisoner  of 
war  in  that  province. 

From  St.  John's  they  marched  for  eighteen  miles  to 
La  Prairie,  over  a  road  of  the  worst  possible  description, 


'28  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

-across  the  strip  of  ground  which  divides  the  "St.  Lawrence 
from  the  Sorel.  As  they  neared  the  banks  of  the  St, 
Lawrence,  the  cheerful  signs  of  civilization,  to  which  they 
had  long  been  strangers,  began  to  reappear,  in  the  distant 
view  they  obtained  of  Montreal  and  the  comfortable 
homes  that  lined  the  banks  of  the  river  as  far  as  their 
-eyes  could  reach.  Weary,  frost-bitten,  and  foot-sore  as 
they  were,  this  sight  was  a  most  welcome  one  and  had 
a  most  exhilarating  effect  upon  their  spirits. 

From  La  Prairie  they  crossed  the  river  to  Montreal, 
which  then  contained  less  than  sixteen  hundred  houses, 
surrounded  by  a  wall  pierced  with  loopholes  for  cannon 
and  fire-arms.  Three-fourths  of  the  inhabitants  were 
French.  They  reported  to  General  David  Wooster,  who 
had  been  left  in  command  of  the  garrison  of  that  city  by 
General  Montgomery  when  he  marched  against  Quebec. 
He  was  then  in  command  of  all  the  American  forces  in 
Canada,  having  succeeded  to  that  position  upon  Mont 
gomery's  death. 

The  five  companies  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
remained  in  Montreal  for  a  fortnight  to  recuperate,  and 
then  continued  their  march  for  Arnold's  camp.  Arnold 
had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  by 
Congress,  in  January,  for  gallant  services  in  the  attack 
upon  Quebec.  The  St.  Lawrence  was  too  full  of  floating 
ice  to  admit  of  water  transportation,  so  they  were  obliged 
to  take  the  road  down  its  north-western  bank.  A  post 
had  been  established  at  Three  Rivers,  half-way  between 
Montreal  and  Quebec,  under  Derrick  Swart,  Deputy  Com 
missary-General,  to  aid  the  transportation  of  the  reinforce 
ments,  and  they  were  furnished  from  there  with  a  few 
horses  and  sleighs.  At  this  place  Monsieur  Pallasier  had 
a  furnace,  from  which  he  promised  to  supply  the  army 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  29 

with  shot  and  shell,  but  owing  to  the  want  of  coal  he  was 
prevented  from  doing  so  until  after  the  army  was  obliged 
to  retreat.  They  arrived  at  Quebec  toward  the  close  of 
March,  where,  after  a  dismal  journey,  they  found  a  most 
dismal  and  discouraging  state  of  affairs.  There  was  still 
five  feet  of  snow  upon  the  ground,  through  which  the  tops 
of  the  fences  were  just  beginning  to  appear.  The  little 
army  had  slowly  increased  in  numbers  to  two  thousand 
five  hundred  men,  of  whom  two  hundred  and  eighty-four 
were  all  that  remained  of  the  brave  fellows  who  accom 
panied  Arnold  in  his  suffering  and  perilous  expedition 
into  Canada  through  the  wilderness  by  the  way  of  the 
Kennebec  and  Chaudiere  rivers.  A  very  large  part  of 
this  army  had  enlisted  only  until  the  middle  of  April,  and 
nearly  one-third  were  down  with  the  small-pox.  This 
scourge,  which  had  made  its  appearance  late  in  February, 
was  said  to  have  been  introduced  into  the  camp  by  a  girl 
who  had  been  a  nurse  in  the  hospital  at  Quebec,  and  had 
come  out  among  the  troops.  It  was  confined  chiefly,  how 
ever,  to  the  New  England  troops.  Vaccination  had  not 
then  been  discovered,  and  innoculation,  which  was  no  less 
than  spreading  the  disease  in  a  milder  form,  but  in  all  its 
objectionable  features,  had  been  positively  prohibited. 
Yet  the  New  England  troops,  regardless  of  the  safety  of 
the  army,  and  in  direct  violation  of  orders,  secretly  in- 
noculated  themselves.  The  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity  of 
Quebec  had  been  removed  by  Arnold  into  the  country, 
and  every  other  precaution  was  taken  by  him  to  prevent 
the  spread  of  this  loathsome  disease.  Yet,  notwithstand 
ing  these  precautions,  it  continued  steadily  to  increase, 
until  it  had  prostrated  nearly  half  the  army. 

The  sick  suffered  for  the  want  of  medicine,  as  did  the 
well  for  nearly  every  necessary  thing.    Scarcely  a  month's 


30  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

provisions  were  on  hand,  and  the  prospect  of  increasing 
the  store  was  by  no  means  encouraging,  as  there  was 
nothing  to  send  them  from  below,  and  the  colonial  credit 
was  exhausted.  The  inhabitants  required  payment  in 
specie  for  everything  they  furnished. 

Arnold,  who  had  only  partially  recovered  from  the 
wound  in  his  leg  which  he  had  received  in  the  assault  upon 
Quebec,  was  disappointed  and  discouraged  at  the  tardiness 
and  paucity  of  his  reinforcements  and  supplies.  What 
troops  he  had  were  in  good  spirits,  but  he  was  without 
competent  artillerists  and  engineers.  Neither  had  he  the 
men,  the  guns,  nor  the  ammunition,  with  which  to  under 
take  the  reduction  of  the  strong  fortifications  of  Quebec, 
and  his  troops  were  too  few  in  number  to  attempt  an  es 
calade.  His  only  hope  was  that  the  garrison  would  sur 
render  from  want  of  supplies,  and  to  this  he  clung  with 
the  tenacity  of  despair. 

His  inadequate  force  was  distributed  along  a  line  en 
circling  the  besieged  city,  twenty-six  miles  in  length, 
including  three  ferries,  over  a  wide  and  rapid  river, 
one  above  the  town,  and  the  other  two  by  the  way  of 
Orleans  Island,  below  it.  This  slender  cord  of  poorly- 
armed  men  had  encircled  the  city  (with  its  cold  walls 
frowning  down  upon  them)  for  three  months,  completely 
cutting  off  all  communication,  yet  no  attempt  had  been 
made  to  break  it.  Every  means  had  been  resorted  to  by 
the  Americans  to  provoke  the  garrison  into  a  conflict  in 
the  open  country,  but  in  vain.  They  preferred  the  secu 
rity  of  their  fortifications.  The  greater  part  of  the  sub 
urbs  of  St.  Roque  and  St.  John's  had  been  burned  to 
prevent  the  inhabitants  from  using  the  houses  for  fuel,  of 
which  they  stood  in  great  need,  yet  no  attempt  was  made 
to  save  them. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  31 

Through  his  emissaries,  Carleton  had  endeavored  to 
persuade  the  Canadians  to  arm  and  come  to  his  relief,  but 
with  little  success.  In  March,  a  small  party  of  them,  led 
by  Mr.  Beaujeu,  concentrated  about  eighteen  miles  below 
Quebec  for  that  purpose.  When  Arnold  learned  of  their 
movements,  he  sent  Lieutenant  Hughes  with  a  party  of 
Pennsylvania  troops  to  disperse  them.  They  soon  fell  in 
with  their  advanced  guard.  A  short  skirmish  ensued,  in 
which  a  number  of  Canadians,  including  a  priest,  were 
killed,  and  a  number  of  others  wounded.  The  main  body 
was  dispersed,  and  a  number  of  prisoners  brought  back  to 
the  American  camp. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  a  battery  of  three  twelve-pounders 
and  one  eight-inch  howitzer  was  opened  at  Point  Levi,  on 
the  opposite  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  below  Quebec. 
This  battery  occupied  the  site  of  one  of  General  Robert 
Monckton's  batteries  in  1759,  and  commanded  the  ship 
ping  in  the  river.  On  the  23d  of  April,  another  battery 
of  one  twenty-four-pounder,  four  twelve-pounders,  two  six- 
pounders,  and  two  howitzers  was  completed  on  the  Heights 
of  Abraham  behind  the  town,  and  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  its  walls.  There  was  another  small  battery  of 
two  guns  and  one  howitzer,  called  Smith's  battery,  on  the 
opposite  bank  of  Charles  river.  The  fire  from  these  bat 
teries  upon  the  city,  owing  to  the  scanty  supply  of  ammu 
nition,  was  feeble  and  without  any  decided  results.  The 
enemy  fired  ten  shots  to  their  one,  most  of  them  from 
thirty-two  and  forty-two  pounders.  During  most  of  this 
time,  however,  General  Carleton  and  the  garrison  of  Que 
bec  slept  in  their  clothes,  in  constant  anticipation  of  an 
attack  from  the  Americans. 

General  Wooster  left  Montreal  for  Quebec  on  the  27th 
of  March,  and  reached  there  on  the  1st  of  April,  when 


32  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE    CONQUEST   OF    CANADA. 

vv 

he  immediately  assumed  the  command  of  the  army.  Ar 
nold,  always  sensitive  and  impulsive,  felt  that  he  was  not 
consulted  by  Wooster  as  he  should  have  been.  He  was 
chagrined  at  the  loss  of  his  command,  and  discouraged  by 
the  weakness  and  deplorable  condition  of  the  army,  which 
had  not  enabled  him  to  do  more  than  maintain  the  block 
ade.  His  horse  had  fallen  with  him  on  the  2d,  while 
riding  along  the  lines,  and  injured  his  wounded  leg  afresh. 
This  confined  him  to  his  quarters  for  ten  days,  and  inten 
sified  his  restlessness  and  dissatisfaction.  He  accordingly 
was  relieved  at  his  own  request,  and  repaired  on  the  12th 
of  April  to  Montreal. 

The  supplies  of  ammunition,  instead  of  being  replen 
ished,  were  steadily  decreased  by  the  fruitless  bombard 
ment  of  Quebec,  and  toward  the  close  of  April  were  re 
duced  to  three  or  four  tons  of  powder,  and  ten  or  twelve 
tons  of  shot.  The  other  supplies  diminished  as  well. 
By  the  1st  of  May  the  commissariat  did  not  contain  ten 
days'  provisions,  and  the  adjacent  country  had  been  well 
nigh  exhausted  of  beef. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Congress  sends  a  Committee  to  Canada —  Their  Journey  thither — Eeturn  of  Dr. 
Franklin  and  Rev.  John  Carroll — The  Supervision  of  the  Northern  Army — 
General  Charles  Lee  ordered  to  the  Command  in  Canada — The  Order  re 
voked,  and  General  John  Thomas  sent  in  his  stead — Further  Reinforce 
ments  for  the  Army  in  Canada — Captain  Ebenezer  Stevens — Colonel  John 
Patterson — The  change  of  Feeling  on  the  part  of  the  Canadians  towards  the 
American  cause — Arrival  of  General  Thomas  at  Quebec — Condition  of  Af 
fairs  there — An  Unsuccessful  Attempt  to  send  a  Fire-ship  into  the  enemy's 
shipping — A  Council  of  War  resolves  upon  a  Retreat — Arrival  of  the  Brit 
ish  ships  Surprise,  Martin,  and  Isis  with  Reinforcements — A  Sortie  by  Sir 
Guy  Carleton — Precipitate  Retreat  of  the  Americans — Aaron  Burr — Re 
covery  of  valuable  Papers  by  Captain  Jonathan  Jones — Merciful  Conduct 
of  General  Carleton — A  Murder  in  Captain  Jones'  company — The  Ameri 
cans  endeavor  to  make  a  Stand  at  Deschambault — A  Council  of  War  deter 
mines  to  continue  the  Retreat  to  Sorel — A  Skirmish  below  Deschambault — 
Mr.  Acklam  Bonfield — The  retreating  Americans  reach  the  mouth  of  the 
Sorel — Dr.  Senter  establishes  a  Hospital  for  the  sick  at  Montreal — Deplor 
able  Condition  of  the  Troops  at  Sorel — Death  of  General  Thomas. 

CONGRESS,  in  its  anxiety  for  the  co-operation  of  Canada 
in  the  war  against  Great  Britain,  and  its  fears  of  the 
unfavorable  effect  which  Montgomery's  defeat  might 
have  upon  the  disposition  of  the  Canadians,  had,  in 
February,  1776,  appointed  a  committee  of  three  of  its 
members  to  undertake,  at  that  severe  season  of  the  year, 
a  mission  of  friendly  intercession  with  the  Canadians. 
This  committee  consisted  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin, 
Samuel  Chase,  and  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  and, 
in  order  to  smooth  the  way  to  success  with  the  Roman 
Catholics  of  that  region,  they  requested  the  Rev.  John 
Carroll,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Baltimore,  to  accom 
pany  them.  He  did  so,  but  without  avail,  for  the  clergy 

(33) 


34  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

V* 

were  unanimous  against  the  American  cause.  The  com 
missioners  left  New  York  in  a  sloop  on  the  2d  of  April, 
crossed  the  lakes  in  the  ordinary  flatboat  covered  with 
anlawning,  and  furnished  with  beds  which  they  brought 
with  them  from  Philadelphia.  They  reached  Montreal 
on  the  last  day  of  April.  The  health  of  Dr.  Franklin, 
who  was  then  in  his  seventy-first  year,  had  been  im 
paired  by  the  hardships  of  the  journey,  and  after  a  stay 
of  ten  days  in  Montreal,  he  returned  home.  John 
Carroll,  finding  his  mission  of  conciliation  hopeless,  re 
turned  with  him.  The  other  members  of  the  committee 
remained  until  the  1st  of  June. 

The  northern  department,  though  strictly  under  the 
command  of  Washington  as  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Continental  Army,  was,  with  his  concurrence,  considered 
as  more  particularly  under  the  direction  of  Congress. 
The  commanding  officers  were  appointed  by  Congress. 
Washington  never  interfered,  to  use  his  own  language, 
"  farther  than  merely  to  advise,  and  to  give  such  aids  as 
were  within  his  power,  on  the  requisitions  of  those 
officers."  That  these  requisitions  upon  his  advice  and 
assistance  were  not  only  frequent  but  continuous,  fully 
appears  in  the  course  of  these  pages.  They  turned  to 
him  for  support  in  all  their  difficulties  and  embarrass 
ments,  and  never  without  receiving  from  him  his  anxious 
and  valuable  aid. 

Early  in  February,  1776,  General  Charles  Lee,  who 
was  then  busily  engaged  in  perfecting  measures  for  the 
defense  of  New  York  City,  was  ordered  by  Congress  to 
take  command  of  the  forces  in  Canada.  He  had  been 
suffering  from  an  attack  of  gout,  and  was  very  reluctant 
to  face  the  cold  of  the  north.  He  delayed  his  departure 
from  New  York,  from  week  to  week,  on  the  plea  of  ill- 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  35 

health,  until  the  beginning  of  March,  when  Congress  re 
voked  the  order,  and  directed  him  to  take  command  of 
the  Southern  department.  This  change,  though  more 
consonant  to  the  state  of  his  health,  was  even  more 
unacceptable  to  his  querulous  disposition,  and  he  then 
complained  that  he  could  have  rendered  the  cause  more 
service  in  Canada,  because  he  was  familiar  with  the 
French  language.  "As  I  am  the  only  general  officer  on 
the  continent  who  can  speak  and  think  in  French,"  he 
wrote  to  Washington,  "  I  confess  I  think  it  would  have 
been  more  prudent  to  have  sent  me  to  Canada,  but  I 
shall  obey  with  alacrity  and  hope  with  success.'' 

General  John  Thomas,  who  commanded  on  Dorchester 
Heights  the  eventful  night  they  were  fortified,  was  pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  major-general  by  Congress,  and 
selected  for  the  command  in  Canada  in  Lee's  place.  He 
was  born  at  Marshfield,  Massachusetts,  in  1725,  where 
he  practiced  medicine ;  was  a  surgeon  in  the  military 
service  in  1746 ;  commanded  a  regiment  of  Massachu 
setts  provincials  under  Amherst,  at  Crown  Point,  in 
1760 ;  and  in  August  of  that  year  participated  in  the 
capture  of  Montreal.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Provin 
cial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  appointed  brig 
adier-general  by  Congress,  June  22d,  1775,  upon  the 
first  organization  of  the  Continental  Army.  He  was  an 
officer  of  high  character  and  ability,  and  had  filled  all 
the  public  trusts  confided  to  him  with  credit  and  distinc 
tion.  He  left  Iloxbury  on  the  21st  of  March,  and 
reached  Albany  on  the  28th,  where  he  was  delayed  for 
a  fortnight  on  account  of  the  impassable  condition  of  the 
lakes.  It  was  the  26th  of  April  before  he  reached  Mon 
treal,  from  whence  he  proceeded  immediately  to  Quebec. 

In  the  meantime  reinforcements  for  the  army  in  Canada 


36  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

were  being  pushed  forward  as  rapidly  as  circumstances  in 
those  early  days  would  admit.  St.  Glair's  Second  Penn-^ 
sylvania  Regiment  was  ordered  directly  to  Canada  by 
Congress,  but  it  was  the  middle  of  April  before  it  reached 
the  lakes,  where  it  was  further  delayed  by  the  breaking 
up  of  the  ice.  Harmar's,  Lamar's,  and  Willet's  com 
panies,  with  Colonel  De  Haas,  and  Captain  John  Nelson's 
independent  rifle  company  (which  was  attached  to  the 
First  Pennsylvania  Regiment),  were  detained  at  Lake 
George  by  the  same  cause,  and  did  not  join  their  com 
rades  of  the  regiment  until  after  the  retreat  from  Quebec. 
The  other  troops  who  were  massed  at  the  head  of  Lake 
George,  waiting  for  the  navigation  to  open,  were  part 
of  Maxwell's  Second  New  Jersey  Regiment,  the  Con 
necticut  regiment  of  Continental  troops  commanded  by 
Colonel  Charles  Burrell,  arid  a  company  of  Pennsylvania 
artillery,  commanded  by  Captain  Bernard  Romans,  a 
French  officer  of  artillery  and  a  skillful  engineer,  who 
had  taken  an  active  part,  under  Ethan  Allen,  in  the  cap 
ture  of  Ticonderoga,  in  May,  1775.  This  last  company 
was  raised  in  Pennsylvania  for  the  Continental  service  by 
an  order  of  Congress  made  on  the  8th  of  February,  1776. 
Bedel's  New  Hampshire  and  Porter's  Massachusetts 
regiments  had  gone  on  before  by  the  way  of  Number 
Four  (Charlestown)  and  Onion  river.  Washington  also 
sent  two  companies  of  Colonel  Henry  Knox's  Massachu 
setts  regiment  of  artillery,  under  command  of  Captain 
Ebenezer  Stevens.*  Stevens  had  with  him  two  mortars, 

*  EBENEZER  STEVENS  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  August  llth,  1751.  At  an 
early  age  he  joined  Paddock's  company  of  artillery,  which  furnished  many 
excellent  artillery  officers  to  the  Continental  army,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  destruction  of  tea  in  Boston  harbor  in  1773.  After  the  battle  of  Lex 
ington,  he  became  first  lieutenant  of  a  company  of  artillery  from  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  marched  to  Boston,  where,  in  January,  1776,  he  became  a  captain  in 
the  Massachusetts  regiment  of  artillery  commanded  by  Colonel  Henry  Knox. 
In  March,  1776,  he  was  ordered  to  Canada,  with  two  companies  of  the  regiment 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  37 

shell,  &c.,  and  a  company  of  artificers,  and  was  especially 
enjoined  by  Colonel  Knox,  in  his  instructions,  to  carry 
the  mortars  and  shell  safely  for  effective  use  upon  Que 
bec.  He  cut  a  road  across  the  Green  mountains  to  Otter 
creek,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  and  descended  the  creek 
on  rafts,  which  he  constructed  for  that  purpose.  Wash 
ington  sent  also  five  hundred  barrels  of  provisions  and 
other  articles. 

Washington  had  arrived  in  New  York  on  the  13th  of 
April,  from  Boston.  Before  his  arrival  there  Congress  had 
recommended  him  to  send  four  regiments  from  New  York 
to  reinforce  the  army  in  Canada.  A  day  or  two  after 
his  arrival  he  received  a  letter  from  Schuyler,  dated  Fort 
George,  12th  of  April,  to  the  following  effect:— "This 
moment  the  post  from  Canada  is  arrived.  I  enclose  you 
copies  of  all  the  papers  I  received.  The  intelligence  they 
afford  is  so  alarming  that  I  beg  leave  to  repeat  my  wish 
that  a  considerable  body  of  troops  should  be  immediately 
sent  up.  I  have  stopped  the  courier  at  this  place,  and 
he  goes  back  immediately  to  advise  our  friends  in  Canada 
that  the  troops  now  here  will  soon  be  in  Canada ;  and  I 
have  presumed  to  add,  that  they  will  be  followed  by  three 
or  four  thousand  more.  This  intelligence  will  keep  up 
their  spirits  and  intimidate  our  enemies."  Washington's 
arrival  had  been  preceded  on  the  30th  of  March  by  the 
regiments  of  John  Patterson,  William  Bond,  John  Grreaton, 
and  Enoch  Poor — all  from  his  army  at  Cambridge.  He 

and  a  party  of  artificers.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  in  October,  1776.  His  battery  formed  part  of  the  garrison  of  Ticon- 
deroga  when  it  was  evacuated  by  St.  Clair  in  1777,  and  he  subsequently  took 
part  in  the  events  which  preceded  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  He  was  ap 
pointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  artillery,  November  24th,  1778,  and  continued  in  ac 
tive  and  distinguished  service  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  present  at  the  sur 
render  of  Cornwallis  and  the  evacuation  of  New  York  City,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  New  York,  from  that  city,  in  1800.  He  died  Sepember  22d,  1823. 


38  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOll    THE 

at  once  sent  them  (in  all  about  eleven  hundred  strong^, 
under  General  William  Thompson,  of  Pennsylvania,  to 
reinforce  the  army  in  Canada.  They  sailed  for  Albany 
on  the  21st  of  April,  in  sloops  up  the  Hudson,  which 
had  been  free  from  ice  since  the  middle  of  March.  With 
them  also  went  a  company  of  riflemen,  a  company  of  ar 
tificers,  and  two  engineers. 

Washington,  under  cover  of  a  letter  of  his  own,  bearing 
date  the  19th  of  April  (in  which  he  asked  the  opinion  of 
Congress  whether  he  should  send  further  reinforcements 
to  Canada),  sent  General  Schuyler's  letter  with  its  en 
closures  to  President  Hancock,  who  immediately  laid  them 
before  Congress.  As  the  result  of  its  deliberations,  Con 
gress  ordered  six  additional  regiments  to  be  sent  into 
Canada  from  the  army  at  New  York.  In  acknowledging 
the  receipt  of  the  papers,  and  communicating  this  reso 
lution  to  Washington,  the  President  of  Congress  wrote 
as  follows : — "  The  important  intelligence  these  papers 
contain  makes  it  necessary  that  the  most  vigorous  meas 
ures  should  be  adopted,  as  well  to  defend  our  troops 
against  the  Canadians  themselves,  as  to  insure  success  to 
the  expedition.  The  Congress  being  determined  on  the 
reduction  of  Quebec  and  the  security  of  that  country, 
for  reasons  too  obvious  to  be  mentioned,  have  left  nothing 
undone  which  can  any  ways  contribute  to  that  end." 

It  will  be  observed  that  an  entire  change  in  the  feel 
ings  of  the  Canadians  is  here  referred  to,  and  an  entire 
change  in  the  policy  of  Congress  toward  them.  At  the 
outset  the  Canadians  manifested  a  very  friendly  disposi 
tion  toward  their  sister  colonies,  and  were  disposed  to 
sympathize  with  them  against  the  mother  country.  They 
afforded  Montgomery  ready  and  valuable  assistance,  but 
with  the  death  of  Montgomery,  and  the  reverse  of  fortune, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  39 

came  an  entire  change  of  feeling  upon  their  part.  They 
were  thenceforward  treated  as  enemies.  This  change  of 
feeling  was  largely  due  to  their  Gallic  temperament,  which 
sympathizes  only  with  success.  They  were  quick  to 
recognize  the  fact  that  the  colonial  force  in  Canada  was 
wholly  inadequate  to  protect  them  against  Great  Britain. 
But  there  were  many  other  causes  which,  through  the 
mismanagement  of  the  American  cause  there,  contributed 
to  this  estrangement,  as  well  as  many  substantial  griev 
ances.  Their  clergy  were  neglected  and  in  some  instances 
ill-used.  The  peasantry  were  obliged  by  force  to  furnish 
supplies  of  different  sorts  without  adequate  compensa 
tion,  or  upon  certificates  which  were  not  honored,  and 
which  utterly  destroyed  the  credit  of  Congress. 

Four  of  the  six  Pennsylvania  regiments — Shee's, 
Wayne's,  Magaw's,  and  Irvine's — had  been  sent  to  Wash 
ington's  army  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  vicinity. 
On  the  26th  of  April,  in  obedience  to  the  demands  of 
Congress,  Washington  still  further  depleted  his  own  little 
army  by  sending  Captains  Robertson's,  Lacey's,  and 
Church's  companies  of  Anthony  Wayne's  regiment,  Will 
iam  Irvine's,  John  Stark's,  William  Wind's,  Elias  Day 
ton's,  and  James  Reed's  regiments,  in  all  about  twenty-five 
hundred  men,  under  General  John  Sullivan,  as  additional 
reinforcements  to  Canada.  Colonel  Wayne  accompanied 
this  detachment,  but  the  remaining  companies  of  his 
regiment  did  not  join  him  until  after  the  retreat  of  the 
army  to  Ticonderoga  early  in  July.  Washington  parted 
with  these  troops  very  reluctantly,  for  the  safety  of  his 
own  army  would  not  allow  of  its  being  weakened  by  the 
loss  of  so  many  of  his  best  men ;  but  he  yielded  with  his 
usual  unselfishness  to  the  resolution  of  Congress,  sup 
ported,  as  it  was,  by  the  popular  clamor  for  additional 


40  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

support  to  the  army  in  Canada,  upon  which  the  greater 
hopes  and  attention  of  Congress  and  the  colonies  were  af 
that  time  fixed.  To  supply  the  places  of  the  troops  of 
which  he  was  thus  deprived,  he  was  obliged  to  apply  to 
New  York,  Connecticut,  and  New  Jersey  for  the  adoption 
of  such  measures  as  would  enable  their  militia  to  inarch 
to  his  relief  upon  the  appearance  of  the  enemy  or  in 
any  case  of  emergency. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  General  Thomas  arrived  before 
Quebec,  and  immediately  took  steps  to  ascertain  the  exact 
condition  of  affairs.  Out  of  the  nineteen  hundred  men 
which  then  composed  the  army,  he  found  only  one  thou 
sand,  including  officers,  who  were  fit  for  duty,  and  the 
enlistments  of  nearly  one-third  of  these  had  expired  on 
the  15th  of  April,  which  reduced  his  available  force  to 
about  seven  hundred,  for  many  of  those  whose  enlistments 
had  expired  refused  to  do  duty.  This  small  force  was 
so  distributed  among  the  scattered  posts,  that  not  more 
than  half  of  it  could  be  relied  upon  to  resist  an  attack 
made  upon  any  point.  There  were  no  intrenchments 
and  no  breastworks,  nor  any  tools  with  which  to  erect 
them. 

Provisions  and  ammunition  were  rapidly  being  ex 
hausted.  One  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  powder  and 
six  days'  rations  were  all  that  remained.  There  was  no 
immediate  prospect  of  these  scanty  stores  being  replen 
ished,  and  the  French  inhabitants  were  so  much  disaf 
fected  to  the  cause  that  no  supplies  could  be  obtained 
from  them  without  the  greatest  difficulty,  and  then  only 
for  cash  in  hard  money. 

Under  the  direction  of  General  Wooster  a  fire-ship  had 
been  constructed  in  the  month  of  April,  and  at  ten 
o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  May  an  attempt  was 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  41 

made  to  send  it  up  the  river  into  the  enemy's  shipping. 
The  tide  ebbed,  however,  before  the  shipping  was  reached, 
and  the  combustibles,  through  some  miscalculation,  ig 
nited  before  the  time.  The  fire-ship  burned  to  the 
water's  edge,  without  doing  any  injury.  The  troops  had 
been  ordered  out  with  their  scaling-ladders  and  pikes  to 
be  prepared  to  take  advantage  of  any  confusion  in  the 
city  which  this  expedition  might  occasion.  "It  is  sup 
posed,"  wrote  Gen.  Caiieton  to  Lord  Greorge  Germain, 
"  they  intended  a  general  assault  had  they  succeeded  in 
setting  fire  to  the  ships  and  lower  town."  But  they  were 
obliged  to  return  still  further  discouraged  to  their  quar 
ters  when  the  adventure  had  failed.* 

As  early  as  the  18th  of  January,  Washington  had 
written  to  Schuyler  that  Quebec  must  be  reduced  before 
the  winter  was  over,  or  the  enemy  would  undoubtedly 

*  John  Jay,  in  a  letter  to  Edward  Rutledge,  dated  New  York,  July  6th,  1776, 
wrote  of  this  fire-ship  as  follows  : — "  I'll  tell  you  a  pretty  story  of  Wooster. 
While  he  was  smoking  his  pipe  in  the  suburbs  of  Quebec,  he  took  it  into  his 
head  that  he  might  do  wonders  with  a  fire-ship ;  and  with  an  imagination 
warmed  by  the  blaze  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  sent  for  a  New  York  captain,  who, 
it  seems,  understood  the  business  of  fire-ship  building.  Under  the  strongest 
injunction  of  secrecy,  he  communicated  to  him  the  important  plan,  and  ordered 
him  to  get  the  ship  in  readiness  with  all  the  dispatch  and  privacy  in  his 
power,  wisely  observing  that  if  the  enemy  should  get  any  intelligence  of  his 
design,  they  would  carry  their  vessels  out  of  the  way  of  his  fire-ship.  The  cap 
tain  accordingly  set  about  preparing  the  material,  &c.,  necessary  for  the  exploit 
which  was  to  heroize  the  General.  Some  short  time  after,  Wooster  was  in 
formed  that  the  time  for  which  the  York  troops  were  enlisted  would  expire 
in  a  day  or  two.  He  issued  orders  for  them  to  parade  at  a  certain  time  and 
place,  and  informed  them  that  he  would  then  and  there  make  a  speech  to 
them,  and  a  Ciceronian  speech  it  was..  '  My  lads,'  says  he,  '  I  find  your  time 
is  almost  out,  and  maybe  some  of  you  think  on  going.  But  surely  you  won't 
leave  me  now ;  you  must  try  and  stay  a  little  longer.  Don't  think  that  I  am 
lying  here  doing  nothing.  No,  no ;  you  shall  see  a  fine  sight  soon.  I  am 
busy  building  a  fire-ship ;  and  as  soon  as  she  is  ready,  will  burn  all  their 
vessels  up.'  The  York  troops,  allured  by  the  promise  of  &  feu  dejoie,  stayed, 
and  were  disappointed.  Some  renegade  Frenchman  remembered  the  speech, 
and  told  it  as  a  secret  to  Governor  Carleton.  The  vessels  were  put  out  of 
harm's  way,  and  the  Connecticut  Alexander  lost  his  passage  in  a  fire-ship  to 
the  temple  of  fame." 


42  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

place  a  strong  garrison  there.  The  winter  was  now  over, 
and  Quebec  had  not  been  reduced.  The  time  was  rap 
idly  approaching  when  the  threatened  reinforcements 
would  arrive.  In  the  midst  of  this  hopeless  condition  of 
things.  General  Thomas,  despairing  of  his  ability  to  reduce 
this  most  impregnable  fortress  on  the  continent  of  Amer 
ica  with  the  slender  means  at  his  command,  called  his 
officers  together  on  the  5th.  This  council  was  composed 
of  Generals  Thomas  and  Wooster,  Colonels  Campbell, 
Maxwell,  Porter,  Nicholson,  and  Elmore,  Lieutenant- 
Colonels  Irvine,  Brown,  Wait,  and  Shreve,  and  Majors 
Morris  and  Lockwood.  As  the  result  of  their  delibera 
tions,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  raise  the  siege, 
remove  the  sick  immediately  to  Three  Rivers,  embark 
the  cannon  from  the  outposts  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
fortify  Jacques  Cartier  and  Deschambault. 

Preparations  were  at  once  begun  to  carry  out  these 
resolutions.  The  river  was  still  practicably  closed  to 
navigation,  and  it  was  not  believed  that  the  British  rein 
forcements  could  arrive  so  early  in  the  spring.  The  little 
Colonial  army,  whose  whole  available  force  at  that  time 
was  barely  sufficient  to  make  one  full  regiment,  had  been 
encouraged  to  believe  that  reinforcements  would  reach 
them  in  time  to  bring  the  campaign  to  a  successful  issue. 
Week  after  week  had  rolled  round,  and  they  still  waited 
impatiently  for  these  reinforcements  to  arrive.  The 
dreary  monotony  of  camp-life,  exposed  to  the  rigors  of  a 
Canadian  winter,  grew  more  and  more  unbearable  as  the 
uneventful  days  passed  by.  There  was  neither  amuse 
ment  nor  recreation  to  divert,  nor  the  excitement  of 
battle  to  stir  up,  their  jaded  spirits.  This  inactivity  had 
been  the  bane  of  their  existence.  Despairing  of  the 
arrival  of  reinforcements,  they  looked  anxiously  for  the 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  43 

arrival  of  General  Thomas.  He  came,  fully  advised  of 
the  military  situation  to  the  south,  and,  after  looking 
around  him,  saw  that  nothing  was  left  but  retreat. 
When  this  necessary  step,  which  had  been  too  long  de 
layed,  was  finally  determined  upon,  it  was  greatly  em 
barrassed  by  the  unfriendly  inhabitants,  who  refused  to 
furnish  transportation  or  any  other  assistance,  but,  so  far 
as  possible,  kept  themselves  concealed. 

Meanwhile,  the  ship  Surprise,  Captain  Lindsay,  and 
sloop  Martin,  which  had  sailed  from  Plymouth  on  the 
20th  of  March,  and  the  frigate  Isis,  which  left  Portland 
March  llth,  with  reinforcements,  after  having  encoun 
tered  great  difficulties  with  the  ice  in  the  St.  Lawrence, 
arrived  below  Quebec  on  the  5th  of  May,  the  same  day 
the  Americans  had  determined  upon  their  retreat.  The 
Surprise  reached  Quebec  at  daylight  on  the  6th,  "  to  the 
inconceivable  joy  of  all  who  saw  her,"  wrote  a  British 
officer  who  was  in  Quebec  at  the  time.  "  The  news  soon 
reached  every  pillow  in  town,  people  half-dressed  ran 
down  to  the  grand  battery  to  feast  their  eyes  with  the 
sight  of  a  ship  of  war  displaying  the  union  flag."  The 
population  during  the  siege  was  about  five  thousand.  The 
Martin  and  Isis,  of  fifty-four  guns,  came  up  shortly  after 
with  the  same  tide.  Two  companies  of  the  twenty-ninth 
regiment  and  about  two  hundred  marines  were  landed, 
and  these,  with  the  Royal  Highland  emigrants,  all  the 
British  and  French  militia,  and  the  artificers  from  Hali 
fax,  numbering  about  eight  hundred  in  all,  marched  out 
of  the  gates  of  St.  John  and  St.  Louis  about  12  o'clock, 
under  the  command  of  General  Carleton,  in  two  divisions, 
six  columns  deep,  with  four  brass  six-pounders.  They 
inarched  with  a  quick  pace  until  they  reached  the 
Heights  of  Abraham,  where  they  formed  in  line  of  battle, 


44  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

with  the  Royal  Fusileers  and  Highland  emigrants  on, 
the  right,  the  British  militia  on  the  left,  and  the  French 
militia  and  all  the  marines  in  the  centre.  The  greatest 
number  of  Americans  that  could  be  collected  upon  the 
Plains  of  Abraham  to  oppose  this  force  of  the  British 
on  such  short  notice,  was  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men  with  one  piece  of  artilery.  The  British  advanced 
to  the  attack.  But  few  shots  were  exchanged,  and  ob 
serving  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy,  a  retreat 
was  ordered  by  General  Thomas,  which  took  place  with 
the  greatest  precipitation  and  confusion.  The  Colonial 
forces  were  so  scattered  at  the  different  posts,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  bring  them  off  in  any  order,  and  the  men 
made  their  escape  as  best  they  could.  The  detachments 
at  Point  Levi  and  Charlebourg  were  obliged  to  make  a 
weary  and  long  detour  through  the  woods  to  avoid  the 
enemy,  whose  ships  had  advanced  up  the  river  and  cut 
them  off  from  the  main  body.  There  was  no  time  left 
to  save  anything.  The  dinner  which  had  been  prepared 
for  General  Thomas  at  Holland  House,  near  the  Heights 
of  Abraham,  was  left  untouched.  All  their  cannon,  five 
hundred  stand  of  small  arms,  military  and  hospital  stores, 
clothing,  orderly  books  and  papers,  scaling  ladders  and 
petards,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  It  was  as 
much  as  the  troops  could  do  to  save  themselves.  With 
this  retreating  army  was  Aaron  Burr,  then  only  twenty 
years  of  age.  He  had  accompanied  Arnold's  expedition 
to  Canada  by  the  way  of  the  Kennebec  as  a  volunteer, 
and  had  been  made  by  Montgomery  one  of  his  aides-de 
camp. 

In  the  haste  and  confusion  of  the  retreat,  valuable 
papers  were  forgotten  at  headquarters  which  it  was  im 
portant  should  not  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands.  Captain 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  45 

Jonathan  Jones  volunteered  to  return  for  them.  His 
services  were  promptly  accepted,  and  at  imminent  risk 
of  capture  he  went  back,  secured  the  papers,  and  re 
turned  safely  with  them. 

The  British  did  not  attempt  to  follow  the  retreating 
Americans,  but  remained  upon  the  Plains  of  Abraham 
until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  they  returned 
to  Quebec. 

The  Surprise  and  Martin  sailed  up  the  river  in  pur 
suit,  and  captured  an  armed  schooner  carrying  four  six 
and  six  three  pounders.  They  also  recaptured  the  ship 
Gaspe,  which  had  been  taken  from  the  British  by  the 
American  forces  during  the  winter.  Most  of  the  Ameri 
can  vessels  and  boats  were  run  on  shore  and  burnt.  The 
crews  made  good  their  escape  up  the  river  in  their  boats, 
the  British  ships  having  come  to  anchor  when  the  tide 
turned.  The  cannon  which  had  been  loaded  in  boats 
preparatory  to  the  retreat  of  the  army  were  captured, 
and  nearly  two  tons  of  powder,  which  was  on  its  way  to 
camp  in  charge  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  Allen,  of 
the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  British  forces. 

One  hundred  of  those  who  were  sick  with  the  small 
pox  made  their  escape  with  their  comrades.  All  the  rest 
were  left  behind  to  find  merciful  treatment  at  the  hands 
of  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  who  issued  the  following  proclama 
tion  : — 

"  WHEREAS,  I  am  informed  that  many  of  his  Majesty's  deluded 
subjects  of  the  neighboring  provinces,  laboring  under  wounds  and 
divers  disorders,  are  dispersed  in  the  adjacent  woods  and  parishes, 
and  are  in  great  danger  of  perishing  for  want  of  proper  assistance. 
All  captains  and  other  officers  of  militia  are  hereby  commanded  to 
make  diligent  search  for  all  such  distressed  persons,  and  afford  them 
all  necessary  relief  and  convey  them  to  the  general  hospital,  where 


46  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR  THE 

proper  care  shall  be  taken  of  them.  All  reasonable  expenses  which 
shall  be  incurred  in  complying  with  this  order  shall  be  paid  by  the  • 
receiver-general. 

"  And  lest  a  consciousness  of  past  offenses  should  deter  such  mis 
erable  wretches  from  receiving  that  assistance  which  their  distressed 
situation  may  require,  I  hereby  make  known  to  them,  that  as  soon 
as  their  health  is  restored  they  shall  have  free  liberty  to  return  to 
their  respective  provinces. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  arms  at  the  castle  of  St.  Louis, 
in  the  city  of  Quebec,  this  tenth  day  of  May,  1776,  in  the  sixteenth 
year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  lord,  George  the  Third. 

"  GUY  CARLETON."  * 

Afterwards,  when  these  prisoners  were  convalescent, 
they  were  brought  before  General  Carleton  in  squads, 
when  he  addressed  them  as  follows  : — "  My  lads,  why  did 
you  come  to  disturb  a  man  in  his  government  that  never 
did  you  any  harm  in  his  life  ?  I  never  invaded  your 
property,  nor  sent  a  single  soldier  to  distress  you.  Come, 
mj  boys !  you  are  in  a  very  painful  situation,  and  not 
able  to  go  home  with  any  confort.  I  must  provide  you 
with  shoes,  stockings,  and  good  warm  waistcoats.  I  must 
give  you  some  good  victuals  to  carry  you  home.  Take 
care,  my  lads,  that  you  don't  come  here  again,  lest  I 
should  not  treat  you  so  kindly." 

Captain  Jonathan  Jones'  company  was  in  the  rear  of 
the  retreating  Americans,  and  reached  Point  aux  Trem- 

*SiR  GUY  CARLETON  was  born  at  Strabane,  Ireland,  in  1724,  and  became 
lieutenant-colonel  in  the  Guards  in  1748.  He  accompanied  General  Amherst 
to  America,  in  1758,  and  distinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Quebec.  He  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  was  conspicuous  for  his  bravery  at  the 
siege  of  Havana,  in  1762.  In  1772  he  was  created  major-general  and  appointed 
British  governor  of  Quebec.  In  1775  he  was  appointed  commander  of  the  British 
forces  in  Canada.  In  1781  he  succeeded  Sir  Henry  Clinton  as  commander-in-chief 
of  the  British  forces  in  America,  and  so  continued  until  after  the  treaty  of 
peace.  In  1786  he  was  again  appointed  governor  of  Quebec,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
New  Brunswick,  and  was  raised  to  the  peerage,  as  a  reward  for  his  distin 
guished  services,  under  the  title  of  Lord  Dorchester.  He  died  in  1808  at  the 
age  of  eighty-five. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  47 

bles  (Aspen-tree  Point),  twenty-four  miles  above  Quebec, 
on  the  7th.  While  passing  that  point  Corporal  Kelly,  of 
his  company,  was  assassinated  by  Brice  Dunlap,  one  of 
his  private  soldiers,  whom  Kelly  had  been  obliged  to 
punish  for  breach  of  discipline.  Kelly's  body  was  hastily 
buried,  a  volley  fired  over  his  grave,  and  the  retreat  con 
tinued.  All  the  other  troops  but  a  few  stragglers  had 
gone  on  ahead.  Dunlap  was  kept  under  arrest  until 
after  the  army  had  retired  to  Ticonderoga,  when  measures 
were  taken  to  send  him  back  to  the  civil  authorities  for 
punishment. 

The  first  stand  the  forlorn  and  retreating  Continental 
troops  attemped  to  make  was  at  Deschambault,  forty-five 
miles  above  Quebec,  where  the  greater  part  of  them  were 
concentrated,  after  forced  marches,  on  the  7th  of  May. 
They  had  very  little  ammunition,  no  clothing  but  that 
on  their  backs,  and  only  provisions  enough  to  subsist 
them  for  two  or  three  days.  Here  they  were  reinforced, 
by  Colonel  Burrell,  with  part  of  his  Connecticut  regiment, 
which  was  stopped  by  the  retreat  on  its  way  to  join  the 
camp  before  Quebec.  A  council  of  war  was  immediately 
held,  when  it  was  resolved,  with  only  three  dissenting 
votes  out  of  fifteen,  that  it  was  not  advisable  for  the 
army  in  its  then  forlorn  condition  to  attempt  to  make  a 
stand  below  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel.  This  council  was 
composed  of  Generals  Thomas  and  Wooster,  Colonels 
Burrell,  Campbell,  Elmore,  and  Livingston,  Lieutenant- 
Colonels  Irvine,  Shreve,  Buel,  Brown,  Antell,  Allen,  and 
Williams,  and  Majors  Morris,  Sedgwick,  and  Ray.  Lieut 
enant-Colonels  Antell,  Allen,  and  Williams  voted  against 
the  retreat.  Deschambault  was  a  strong  position,  and 
General  Thomas,  though  conscious  of  his  inability  to  hold 
it  with  the  resources  then  at  his  command,  was  reluctant 


48  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

to  abandon  it  until  he  had  exhausted  every  possible 
hope  of  succor.  He  sent  an  officer  at  once  to  Montreal 
for  provisions,  reinforcements,  intrenching  tools,  boats, 
and  assistance  to  take  off  the  sick.  While  he  waited 
with  anxiety  for  these,  his  situation  was  daily  rendered 
more  distressing  by  the  conduct  of  the  Connecticut  troops 
who  had  lately  joined  him.  Alarmed  at  the  loathsome 
cases  of  small-pox  which  confronted  them  on  every  hand, 
they  had  secretly  inoculated  themselves,  in  disobedience 
of  orders,  and  thereby  contributed  greatly  to  the  spread 
of  the  disease. 

When  General  Thomas'  call  for  assistance  reached  the 
Commissioners  of  Congress  at  Montreal,  they  at  once  ex 
pressed  themselves  against  any  attempt  to  hold  Descham- 
bault,  believing  that  in  the  present  situation  of  affairs  a 
retreat  to  St.  Johns  and  Isle  aux  Noix  was  inevitable. 
So  thoroughly  convinced  were  they  that  the  retreat  must 
continue,  and  that  all  hope  of  maintaining  a  foothold  in 
Canada  was  gone,  that  they  advised  General  Schuyler 
not  to  forward  Sullivan's  brigade  (which  was  detained 
until  boats  could  be  built  for  them),  as  no  further  sup 
plies  could  be  drawn  from  Canada,  and  reinforcements 
could  only  increase  their  distress.  But  Arnold  did  not 
agree  with  them.  He  was  for  keeping  Deschambault  at 
all  hazards,  and  the  commissioners  yielded  to  his  supe 
rior  judgment  in  such  matters  and  his  familiar  knowledge 
of  the  country.  Captain  Bent  and  a  lieutenant,  with  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  were  dispatched  from  Sorel  to  the 
assistance  of  the  troops  at  Deschambault;  but  General 
Thomas,  after  waiting  six  days  for  the  much-needed  re 
lief  in  vain,  found  it  utterly  impossible  to  delay  the 
evacuation  of  Deschambault  longer,  and  he  consequently 
continued  his  retreat  to  Three  Rivers. 


CONQUEST   OF   CANADA.  49 

The  Americans  had  been  pursued  as  far  as  Descham- 
bault  by  a  British  frigate  of  thirty-six  guns,  a  ship  of 
twenty  guns,  and  the  schooner  captured  from  the  Ameri 
cans.  Eight  boat-loads  of  men  landed  from  these  vessels 
four  miles  below  Deschambault  on  the  9th.  General 
Thomas  detailed  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  to  at 
tack  them,  supported  by  a  reserve  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men.  After  a  slight  skirmish  the  British  retreated 
to  their  boats  and  returned  to  the  ships  before  the  re 
serves  had  come  up. 

Colonel  Maxwell,  with  a  few  New  Jersey  troops,  had 
been  left  as  an  outpost  at  Jacques  Cartier  (also  a  strong 
military  position),  but  finding  himself  unable  to  hold  it, 
he  joined  General  Thomas  at  Deschambault  on  the  12th. 

When  the  Americans  began  their  retreat  from  Desch 
ambault,  they  had  but  three  pounds  of  meal  and  not  an 
ounce  of  meat  to  each  man.  After  another  weary  and 
dispiriting  march  they  reached  Three  Rivers  on  Wednes 
day,  the  15th  of  May,  where  they  were  joined  by  the 
artillery  companies  of  Captains  Stevens  and  Eustis, 
under  the  command  of  the  former,  who  had  proceeded 
thus  far  on  their  way  to  Quebec  when  they  learned  of 
the  retreat.  At  this  point  General  Thomas  felt  that  he 
could  safely  disencumber  himself  of  the  sick,  who  had 
greatly  retarded  his  movements,  and  hasten  on  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Sorel,  where,  with  the  reinforcements  he 
expected,  he  could  entrench  himself  and  resist  the  fur 
ther  progress  of  the  enemy.  He  accordingly  left  the 
sick  at  Three  Rivers,  under  the  merciful  care  of  Mr. 
Bonfield,  until  he  could  provide  means  for  their  removal 
to  a  place  of  greater  comfort  and  security,  and  detached 
Colonel  Maxwell,  with  his  Jersey  troops,  for  their  pro 
tection. 


50  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

Mr.  Acklam  Bonfield  was  a  prosperous  merchant  of 
Quebec,  who  early  espoused  the  patriot  cause.  Such 
was  the  measure  of  his  devotion,  that  he  abandoned  his 
fortune  and  family,  and  took  his  place  of  usefulness  in 
the  camp  of  the  Colonial  troops.  He  was  untiring  in 
such  works  of  mercy  as  that  just  recited.  He  remained 
with  the  army  until  after  its  retreat  from  Canada,  when 
he  repaired  to  Philadelphia.  He  died  at  that  place  April 
25th,  1777,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven,  and  was  buried  in 
Christ  Church  yard. 

General  Thomas,  with  the  troops  from  before  Quebec, 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel  on  Friday,  the  seven 
teenth  day  of  May,  where  he  found  General  Arnold, 
General  Thompson  with  Greaton's  and  part  of  Bond's 
regiments,  and  Colonel  St.  Clair  with  the  Second  Penn 
sylvania.  These  troops  had  arrived  there  only  the  evening 
before.  General  Thompson's  brigade  took  with  it  the 
last  boat  on  the  lakes,  and  General  Schuyler  was  strain 
ing  all  his  energies  in  the  construction  of  others,  at  the 
rate  of  six  to  eight  per  day,  in  which  to  forward  General 
Sullivan's  brigade.  General  Thomas  at  once  dispatched 
Dr.  Isaac  Senter  to  Montreal,  to  open  a  hospital  for  the 
sick,  for  which  purpose  General  Arnold  assigned  him  a 
large  house  at  that  place  belonging  to  the  East  India 
Company.  General  Thomas  had  the  sick  removed  from 
Three  Rivers  to  this  hospital,  and  on  the  20th  was 
obliged,  on  account  of  the  want  of  provisions,  to  order 
Colonel  Maxwell  to  abandon  Three  Rivers  and  join  him 
at  Sorel  with  his  Jersey  troops.  Maxwell  entertained 
the  vain  hope  of  being  able  to  hold  Three  Rivers,  which 
possessed  military  advantages,  until  the  arrival  of  rein 
forcements  should  check  the  disasters  of  the  campaign 
at  that  point,  and  enable  them  to  regain  the  ground  they 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  51 

had  already  lost  below.  He  therefore  obeyed  General 
Thomas'  instructions  with  great  reluctance. 

Sorel  was  a  low,  unhealthy  place,  almost  upon  a  level 
with  the  water's  edge.  Here  it  was  determined  to  con 
centrate  all  the  available  troops,  repair  as  well  as  possi 
ble  their  broken  fortunes,  and  make  a  desperate  effort  to 
regain  some  of  the  ground  that  had  been  lost  down  the 
river.  The  troops  were  supported  in  the  river  by  two 
gondolas,  one  mounting  three  twenty-four  pounders,  the 
other,  one  twelve-pounder,  and  several  armed  bateaux. 

Though  determined  in  spirit,  the  outlook  to  the  troops 
then  assembled  at  Sorel  was  a  most  gloomy  one.  Their 
condition  was  deplorable.  "  The  army  here,"  wrote 
the  Commissioners  of  Congress  to  Schuyler,  "is  suffer 
ing  for  want  of  provisions,  particularly  pork.  None,  or 
next  to  none,  is  to  be  procured  in  Canada.  For  God's 
sake  send  off  pork,  or  our  troops  will  be  greatly  dis 
tressed  for  want  of  provisions."  On  the  17th  of  May 
they  wrote  to  Congress,  "  We  want  words  to  describe  the 
confusion  that  prevails  through  every  department  relating 
to  the  army.  Your  troops  live  from  hand  to  mouth. 
They  have  of  late  been  put  on  half  allowance  in  several 
places,  and  in  some  they  have  been  without  pork  for 
three  or  four  days  past,"  and  on  the  27th  they  wrote 
again  to  Congress,  "  The  army  is  in  a  distressed  con 
dition,  and  is  in  want  of  the  most  necessary  articles, 
meat,  bread,  shoes,  and  stockings." 

They  were  literally  in  rags,  broken,  disorganized,  sick, 
hungry,  and  disheartened.  Half  their  number  were  down 
with  small-pox  and  other  diseases.  General  Thompson 
had  brought  with  him  all  the  pork  there  was  at  the  posts 
above  Albany,  amounting  to  about  two  hundred  pounds. 
The  amount  of  meat  and  flour  required  for  the  daily 


52  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

sustenance  of  the  army  then  in  Canada  was  estimated 
at  twelve  thousand  pounds  of  each.  No  provisions  could 
be  obtained  in  Canada,  as  Congress  was  entirely  without 
credit,  and  was  already  indebted  to  the  inhabitants  in 
the  sum  of  $15,000.  Not  even  the  use  of  a  cart 
could  be  procured  without  ready  money  or  force.  The 
men  were  without  pay,  Congress  being  $30,000  in 
their  debt,  and  there  were  not  eight  tons  of  gunpowder 
in  the  whole  province  of  Canada.  "  One  thousand 
weight  of  lead,"  wrote  General  Thompson,  "  fifty  quires 
of  cartridge  paper,  and  fifteen  pounds  of  thread,  were 
necessary  to  furnish  twenty-four  rounds  of  ammunition 
to  each  man."  A  few  peas  were  the  only  vegetables 
that  even  the  officers  were  able  to  obtain.  With  diffi 
culty  the  commissioners  procured  three  hundred  tents 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty  camp-kettles  for  them  at 
Montreal.  They  were,  as  General  Thomas  described  it, 
"destitute  of  almost  everything  necessary  to  render  their 
lives  comfortable  or  even  tolerable,"  and  with  no  pros 
pect  of  speedy  relief.  "  Our  soldiers,"  wrote  the  Com 
missioners  of  Congress  to  General  Thomas  from  Montreal, 
on  the  26th  of  May,  "will  be  soon  reduced  to  the  dread 
ful  alternative  of  starving  or  of  plundering  the  inhabitants. 
The  latter  will  surely  happen,  if  our  troops  should  not  be 
supplied  with  bread  in  a  regular  way." 

On  the  21st  of  May,  while  this  distressing  state  of 
affairs  in  the  army  was  at  its  height,  Major- General 
Thomas  was  seized  with  small-pox.  He  had  never  had 
the  disease,  and  was,  therefore,  exposed  to  great  danger 
from  the  first;  but  he  had  refused  to  be  inoculated,  be 
cause,  for  the  efficiency  of  the  service,  he  had  been 
obliged  to  prohibit  inoculation  among  the  troops,  and  he 
would  not  avail  himself  of  any  security  which  his  duty 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  53 

compelled  him  to  deny  to  them.  Only  the  day  before 
he  had  complained  bitterly  to  the  Commissioners  of  the 
disobedience  of  orders  by  the  troops  in  inoculating  them 
selves.  He  relinquished  the  command  to  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Thompson,  and  was  removed  to  Chamblee,  where  he 
died  on  the  second  day  of  June.  In  his  death,  the  cause 
of  American  liberty,  then  in  its  infancy,  received  one  of 
its  earliest  and  greatest  sacrifices,  and  one  which  the  cir 
cumstances  of  his  death  rendered  peculiarly  distressing. 
Had  his  life  been  spared,  his  name  would  now  fill  a 
larger  page  in  his  country's  history,  but  that  record, 
bright  as  it  might  have  become,  could  not  have  increased 
the  gratitude  which  his  countrymen  owe  to  his  memory. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Arnold  sends  Troops  to  the  Cedars — Captain  Forster's  Party  Attempts  to  Dis 
lodge  them — Colonel  Bedel  Abandons  his  Post — Major  Henry  Sherburne 
sets  out  with  Reinforcements — Delays  in  his  March — Disgraceful  Surrender 
by  Major  Butterfield — The  Conduct  of  Bedel  and  Butterfield  Condemned  by 
Washington — They  are  Court-martialed  and  Dismissed  the  Service — Dis 
astrous  Defeat  of  Sherburne's  Party — Barbarous  Treatment  of  the  Prisoners 
— The  Loss  on  both  sides — Indignation  throughout  the  Colonies  at  the 
Ill-treatment  of  the  Prisoners — Arnold  sets  out  to  their  Belief — The  Com 
missioners  of  Congress  send  the  First  Pennsylvania  Eegiment  to  Reinforce 
Arnold — They  Purchase  Thirty  Loaves  of  Bread  for  them  in  Montreal — 
Forster,  advised  of  their  Approach,  Retreats — The  Pursuit — Arnold  De 
mands  a  Surrender  of  the  Prisoners — A  Council  of  War  decides  against  a 
Surprise — An  Exchange  of  Prisoners  and  an  Armistice  agreed  upon — Retreat 
of  Forster's  Party  above  the  Cedars. 

LATE  in  April,  General  Arnold  ordered  Colonel  Tim 
othy  Bedel,  with  about  three  hundred  and  ninety  men 
of  his  own  New  Hampshire  and  Burrell's  Connecticut 
Regiment  of  Continental  troops,  to  take  post  on  a  point 
of  land  called  the  Cedars,  forty-three  miles  above  Mon 
treal,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  "  to  prevent  any  goods  being 
sent  to  the  upper  country,  and  to  guard  against  a  sur 
prise  from  the  enemy  or  their  Indians."  They  had  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  were  well  intrenched  behind 
picket  lines  and  breastworks,  in  a  strong  position  com 
manding  a  narrow  pass  on  the  line  of  communication  be 
tween  Montreal  and  the  upper  country. 

When  information  of  Bedel's  movements  reached  the 
British  station  above,  a  party  of  troops  descended  the 

(54) 


THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE   CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  OO 

St.  Lawrence  from  Oswegatchie  (now  Ogdensburg),  to 
dislodge  him.  This  motley  force  consisted  of  five  hund 
red  savages,  chiefly  Mohawks  and  Caughnawagas,  under 
Joseph  Brant,  the  great  captain  of  the  Six  Nations,  one 
hundred  Canadians,  and  forty  regulars  of  the  eighth 
regiment  of  foot  (Armstrong's).  The  whole  was  com 
manded  by  Captain  George  Forster  of  the  eighth  regi 
ment. 

On  Wednesday,  the  15th  of  May,  Bedel  was  advised 
by  two  friendly  Indians  of  the  approach  of  this  party, 
which  was  then  within  nine  miles  of  his  post.  Instead 
of  preparing  himself  to  resist  the  attack,  he  immediately 
turned  over  the  command  to  Major  Isaac  Butterfield  and 
hastened  back  to  Montreal,  under  the  specious  pretext 
of  obtaining  reinforcements  for  the  post.  General  Arnold 
was  absent  at  Sorel  when  Bedel  reached  Montreal,  and 
he  therefore  made  his  statement  of  the  condition  of  affairs 
at  the  Cedars  to  Colonel  Patterson,*  who  had  been  ordered 
with  his  regiment  to  Montreal  as  soon  as  he  reached  St. 
Johns  from  the  south.  Colonel  Patterson  immediately 
sent  Bedel's  report  to  General  Arnold  at  Sorel,  and  de 
tached  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  from  his  own  regiment 
to  reinforce  the  post  at  the  Cedars,  which  Major  Henry 
Sherburne  volunteered  to  command. 

*JOHN  PATTERSON  was  born  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  in  1744,  and  removed 
to  Lenox,  Mass.,  in  1774.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts  in  1774  and  1775,  and  commanded  a  company  of  minnte  men  of  Berk 
shire  county,  which  marched  for  Boston  the  day  after  they  received  news  of 
the  battle  of  Lexington.  He  commanded  a  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Bunker's 
Hill.  After  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British,  he  marched  with  his 
regiment  to  New  York,  and  from  there  under  General  Thompson  to  Canada. 
He  afterwards  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Princeton,  and  was  ap 
pointed  brigadier-general  by  Congress  February  21st,  1777.  He  was  at  the 
battles  of  Saratoga  and  Monmouth.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  after 
the  war  removed  to  Lisle,  Broome  county,  New  York,  where  he  became  chief 
justice  of  the  county  court.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Legislature 
and  Constitutional  Convention,  and  a  member  of  Congress  in  1803-5.  He  died 
at  Lisle,  July  19th,  1808. 


56  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

Sherburne  left  Montreal  with  his  detachment  on  the 
16th  of  May,  but  was  unable  to  ascend  Lake  St.  Louis, 
on  account  of  the  difficulty  he  experienced  in  procuring 
boats,  until  the  18th.  On  that  day  he  landed  his  force 
on  a  point  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  nine  miles  below  the 
Cedars.  From  here  he  sent  out  Captain  Theodore  Bliss 
with  a  party  to  procure  transportation.  Bliss  was  cap 
tured  when  two  miles  out,  but  succeeded  in  advising 
Sherburne  of  his  capture,  and  also  of  the  fact  that  a 
force  of  five  hundred  Canadians  and  savages  intended  to 
attack  him  that  night.  Sherburne,  relying  upon  the 
truth  of  this  information,  which  proved  to  be  utterly 
without  foundation,  re-embarked  his  men  and  provisions 
and  brought  them  safely  back  to  Montreal  Island,  arriving 
there  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  During  the 
course  of  the  same  day,  he  endeavored  to  ascend  the 
lake  again,  but  was  prevented  by  adverse  winds,  one 
boat  only,  containing  Captain  Ebenezer  Sullivan  (a 
brother  of  the  general)  and  party,  having  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  head  of  the  lake.  Upon  landing,  Captain 
Sullivan  compelled  a  priest  to  accompany  him  to  the 
place  where  Bliss  was  confined,  and  secured  his  release. 

The  valuable  time  thus  lost  by  Sherburne  prevented 
him  from  reaching  the  Cedars  before  the  post  was  be 
sieged  by  Forster's  party.  If  he  had  not  acted  so 
promptly  upon  the  false  intelligence  which  Bliss  had  sent 
him,  or  if  circumstances  had  permitted  him  to  make 
better  use  of  the  time,  the  history  of  the  Revolution 
might  have  been  spared  the  shame  of  the  affair  at  the 
Cedars,  and  the  subsequent  capture  of  his  own  force 
have  been  averted. 

On  Friday,  the  17th,  Captain  Forster  had  invested  the 
post  at  the  Cedars,  and  for  two  days  kept  up  a  loose, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  57 

scattering  fire,  which  did  no  injury,  except  the  wound 
ing  of  one  man.  Butterfield,  who  was  paralyzed  with 
fear,  had  twenty  rounds  of  cartridges  to  each  of  his  men, 
fifteen  pounds  of  musket-balls,  thirty  rounds  of  cartridges 
for  one  field-piece  and  five  for  another,  half  a  barrel  of 
gunpowder,  and  provisions  for  twenty  or  thirty  days. 
He  saw  the  ineffectual  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  knew  that 
reinforcements  were  near  at  hand.  Yet  when  Forster 
demanded  a  surrender,  he  ignominiously  complied,  against 
the  protestations  of  his  officers  and  men,  on  Sunday,  the 
19th  instant,  without  conditions,  and  without  firing  a  shot. 
Rather  than  brave  the  possibilities  of  falling  into  the 
hands  of  a  savage  enemy,  which  they  were  not  slow  to 
threaten  him  with,  he  preferred  to  incur  the  contempt  of 
his  companions  and  the  obloquy  of  posterity.  His  con 
duct,  as  well  as  that  of  Bedel,  was  promptly  condemned 
by  Washington  in  a  letter  to  Schuyler.  "  They  have 
certainly  acted  a  part,''  he  wrote,  "  deserving  the  most 
exemplary  notice.  I  hope  you  will  take  proper  meas 
ures,  and  have  good  courts  appointed  to  bring  them  and 
every  other  officer  that  has  been,  or  shall  be,  guilty  of 
misconduct  to  trial,  that  they  may  be  punished  according 
to  their  offenses.  Our  misfortunes  at  the  Cedars  were 
occasioned,  as  it  is  said,  entirely  by  their  base  and  cow 
ardly  behavior;  and  can  not  be  ascribed  to  any  other 
cause."  They  were  put  under  arrest,  and  sent  to  Sorel 
for  trial,  but,  owing  to  the  retreat  of  the  army,  they  were 
not  court-martialed  until  the  1st  of  August,  at  Ticonde- 
roga  (that  being  the  earliest  day  when  the  condition  of 
the  army  would  admit  of  their  being  called  to  account). 
They  were  both  sentenced  to  be  cashiered  and  incapaci 
tated  forever  from  holding  a  commission  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States,  and  ordered  to  depart  the  camp  imme- 


58  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

diately.  "  I  ordered  the  sentences  to  be  inserted  in  the 
general  orders/'  wrote  General  Gates  to  John  Hancock, 
"and  hope  the  disgraceful  example  made  of  the  offenders 
will  deter  others  from  committing  so  flagrant  a  crime. 
Perhaps  a  little  more  severity  in  the  court-martial  would 
have  effected  this  in  a  stronger  manner,  but  severity  is 
not  the  characteristic  of  our  military  courts  any  more 
than  it  is  our  military  law."  The  regiment  upon  which 
these  unworthy  officers  had  brought  this  misfortune  was 
commanded  to  the  end  of  the  campaign  by  Lieut.  Colonel 
Joseph  Wait. 

Sherburne,  with  the  rest  of  his  party,  ascended  the 
lake  again  on  the  20th,  landed  at  Quinze  Chiens,  and 
marched  about  noon  (his  force  being  then  reduced  to  about 
one  hundred)  to  within  four  miles  of  the  Cedars.  He 
had  no  tidings  of  the  fate  of  that  post.  Thus  far  he  had 
encountered  no  sign  of  the  enemy,  though  his  knowledge 
of  Indian  warfare  led  him  to  expect  them  in  every  thicket 
and  behind  every  tree.  At  this  point,  however,  traces  of 
them  were  discovered,  but  before  he  could  improve  the 
warning,  a  murderous  volley,  accompanied  with  the  wild 
whoops  of  the  savages,  was  poured  into  his  ranks  by  the 
treacherous  enemy  concealed  in  overpowering  numbers 
in  the  woods.  Sherburne's  column  faltered  for  a  moment 
under  the  galling  fire,  but  immediately  rallied,  and  a  fierce 
and  bloody  contest  ensued.  The  Americans  fought  under 
the  greatest  disadvantages,  but  they  maintained  their 
ground  with  courage  and  desperation  for  an  hour.  Every 
one  of  their  number  who  fell  cost  the  enemy  dearly. 
The  odds  against  which  they  contended  were  four  to  one, 
and  it  soon  became  apparent  that  they  were  in  great  dan 
ger  of  being  surrounded  and  captured.  Seeing  this, 
Sherburne  brought  off  his  men  in  good  order,  and  for 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  59 

forty  minutes  longer  kept  up  a  running  fire  with  his  as 
sailants.  Of  course,  their  progress  was  slow.  A  party 
of  the  enemy  that  was  disengaged  was  easily  able  to  out 
flank  them  and  secure  a  bridge  over  which  they  were 
obliged  to  pass  in  their  retreat.  When  they  reached  this 
all  hope  of  further  resistance  was  gone,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  surrender. 

The  total  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  engagement 
was  twenty-eight  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  That  of 
the  enemy  was  twenty-one  killed,  including  a  chief  war 
rior  of  the  Seneca  tribe.  The  whole  force  was  marched 
off  as  prisoners  of  war  to  the  Cedars,  amid  loud  lamen 
tations  of  the  Indians  for  the  loss  of  their  chief. 

The  prisoners  were  at  once  subjected  to  the  most  bar 
barous  treatment,  were  stripped  of  almost  all  their  cloth 
ing,  and  many  were  tomahawked  and  scalped.  One,  while 
still  retaining  life  and  sensation,  was  roasted  by  the  sav 
ages.  Two  others  were  exposed  on  an  island  naked  and 
starving,  where  they  were  afterwards  discovered  by  the 
troops  under  Arnold  and  taken  off.  During  the  whole  of 
their  imprisonment,  they  were  furnished  with  inadequate 
food  of  an  inferior  quality. 

These  outrages  at  the  Cedars  awakened  great  indig 
nation  throughout  the  colonies.  "  The  inhuman  treat 
ment  of  the  whole  and  murder  of  part  of  our  people  after 
their  surrender  and  capitulation,"  wrote  Washington  from 
New  York,  "was  certainly  a  flagrant  violation  of  that  faith 
which  ought  to  be  held  sacred  by  all  civilized  nations, 
and  was  founded  in  the  most  savage  barbarity."  The 
truth  of  these  outrages  was  subsequently  established  in 
an  investigation  by  Congress,  which  body,  upon  the 
strength  of  them,  refused  to  ratify  a  cartel  which  Arnold 
had  made  with  Forster  for  the  exchange  of  the  prisoners, 


60  THE   CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

and  demanded  the  surrender  of  their  guilty  perpetrators, 
in  order  that  they  might  be  punished. 

Arnold,  who  was  at  Sorel  when  he  received  the  intelli 
gence  brought  by  Colonel  Bedel  from  the  Cedars,  imme 
diately  repaired  to  Montreal,  and  taking  with  him  one 
hundred  men,  set  out  for  the  Cedars.  On  the  march  he 
received  intelligence  of  Butterfield's  surrender  and  the 
capture  of  Sherburne  and  his  party.  He  thereupon 
halted  at  La  Chine,  twelve  miles  above  Montreal,  and  in 
trenched  himself  in  a  spacious  stone  magazine.  The 
garrison  of  Fort  St.  Ann,  at  the  head  of  Montreal  Island, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Young,  upon  learning  of 
these  disasters,  and  that  the  Indians  were  about  landing 
on  the  island,  abandoned  the  fort  with  its  stores  and  pro 
visions,  and  retreated  to  La  Chine,  where  they  joined 
General  Arnold.  Arnold  was  also  reinforced  by  part  of 
Greaton's  regiment  and  a  company  of  Reed's  regiment, 
under  command  of  Captain  James  Wilkinson. 

The  Commissioners  of  Congress  learned  at  Sorel,  on  the 
22d  of  May,  of  these  increasing  disasters  above  Montreal, 
and  immediately  ordered  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  under  Colonel  De  Haas,  in  all  about  four  hundred 
and  ten  in  number,  including  Nelson's  rifle  company,  up 
to  Montreal,  to  reinforce  General  Arnold.  They  reached 
Montreal  on  the  evening  of  the  24th,  and  remained  there 
until  the  following  evening  at  six  o'clock,  when  they 
moved  forward  for  La  Chine.  Some  idea  of  the  destitute 
condition  of  the  regiment  may  be  formed  from  the  cir 
cumstance  that  the  Commissioners  were  obliged  to  pur 
chase  out  of  their  private  means  thirty  loaves  of  bread 
from  their  baker,  to  feed  them  upon  while  they  were  in 
Montreal,  because  they  could  not  obtain  food  from  any 
other  quarter. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  61 

On  that  Saturday  night,  during  which  they  made  their 
brave  march,  hungry  and  ragged,  to  relieve  General 
Arnold,  he  was  in  immediate  anticipation  of  an  attack  from 
Forster's  motley  forces,  who  had  with  them  the  two  pieces 
of  artillery  taken  at  the  Cedars,  and  who  were  so  much  em 
boldened  by  the  easy  victories  they  had  just  achieved 
that  they  believed  Montreal  was  at  their  mercy.  The 
drums  of  Forster's  party  were  distinctly  heard  at  La 
Chine,  and  Arnold's  little  force  was  out  under  arms  until 
10  P.  M.,  prepared  to  receive  them.  At  that  hour  they 
doubled  the  guard,  and  repaired  to  their  quarters  to 
sleep  on  their  arms,  momentarily  expecting  an  attack. 
Forster's  spies,  however,  had  informed  him  of  the  ap 
proach  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  which 
caused  him  to  retreat  with  precipitation.  The  cause  of 
this  retreat  was  not  understood  by  Arnold's  forces  until 
the  arrival  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  about  six  o'clock 
on  the  following  morning.  Colonel  De  Haas  immediately 
set  off  with  his  regiment,  though  wearied  with  their 
night's  march,  to  endeavor  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  Fors 
ter's  party  before  they  should  be  able  to  cross  to  the 
main  land;  and  General  Arnold  prepared  to  follow  him 
as  soon  as  he  could  get  his  troops  in  marching  order. 

The  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  reached  Fort  St. 
Ann,  at  the  upper  end  of  Montreal  Island,  on  the  same 
afternoon,  at  three  o'clock,  in  time  to  see  Forster's  rear 
guard  landing  on  the  opposite  shore.  It  was  an  hour 
later  before  Arnold  with  his  troops  got  up,  and  there  was 
another  hour's  delay  occasioned  by  the  difficulty  experi 
enced  by  the  bateaux  in  stemming  St.  Ann's  rapids. 
The  stores  and  provisions  were  then  unloaded  from  the 
boats  with  the  greatest  zeal  and  promptitude,  and  the 
troops  eagerly  embarked  in  the  boats  until  they  were 


62  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

weighed  down  to  the  water's  edge.  Arnold's  canoe  was 
paddled  by  four  Iroquois  Indians.  The  river  was  wide 
and  unruffled.  They  steered  their  course  for  the  white 
village  and  spire  of  Quinze  Chiens,  and  as  they  dropped 
down  with  the  rapid  current  they  were  almost  afraid  to 
move  for  fear  their  crowded  boats  would  be  swamped. 
There  were  no  signs  of  the  enemy  until  they  approached 
the  opposite  shore  where  they  intended  to  land.  As 
they  approached  this  spot  a  fire  was  suddenly  opened 
upon  them  from  a  masked  battery — consisting  of  the  two 
brass  six-pounders  which  Butterfield  had  surrendered 
at  the  Cedars  (Forster's  party  had  no  other  artillery), 
and  from  small  arms  along  the  whole  line. 

The  stillness  of  that  beautiful  Sunday  evening  in  May 
was  also  broken  by  the  unearthly  yells  of  the  savages. 
The  enemy  was  intrenched  in  a  strong  position  around 
the  church.  It  was  just  after  sunset,  and  the  rattling  of 
musketry,  the  booming  of  the  cannon,  the  war-whoops  of 
the  savages,  and  the  splashing  of  the  balls  in  the  river, 
which  more  than  once  sprinkled  them  with  water,  and 
the  slightest  touch  of  which  would  have  sunk  them,  made 
their  position  a  very  perilous  and  thrilling  one.  It  was 
impossible  for  them  to  land  under  such  a  fire.  It  was 
impossible  for  them  to  return  it  with  any  effect  from 
their  boats,  and  it  was  becoming  too  dark  to  see  the 
enemy.  They  were  unacquainted  with  the  ground  ;  the 
men  were  greatly  fatigued  (the  First  Pennsylvania 
having  been  under  forced  marches  for  twenty-four  hours), 
and  General  Arnold  thought  it  prudent  to  order  them  to 
return  to  St.  Ann's,  where  they  landed  about  eight 
o'clock. 

Arnold  had  sent  a  number  of  Caughnawaga  Indians 
to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  prisoners,  threatening  as 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  63 

an  alternative  to  sacrifice  every  Indian  that  fell  into  his 
hands,  and  to  destroy  their  towns.  These  threats  were 
received  with  defiance.  They  refused,  and  declared  that 
they  would  massacre  every  prisoner  they  held,  if  any 
attack  was  made  upon  them.  This  was  a  trying  ordeal 
for  Arnold  and  his  men.  They  were  in  sufficient  force 
to  punish  the  enemy,  and  the  men  were  clamorous  for 
vengeance.  But  such  was  the  perilous  situation  of  the 
prisoners  that  they  were  obliged  to  hesitate. 

"  I  was  torn  by  the  conflicting  passions  of  revenge 
and  humanity,"  writes  Arnold,  "a  sufficient  force  to  take 
ample  revenge  raging  for  action,  urged  me  on  one  hand, 
and  humanity  for  five  hundred  unhappy  wretches,  who 
were  upon  the  point  of  being  sacrificed  if  our  vengeance 
was  not  delayed,  plead  equally  strong  on  the  other." 

A  council  of  war,  including  all  the  captains,  was  called 
as  soon  as  they  returned  to  St.  Ann's,  at  which  Arnold 
proposed  a  surprise  of  Forster  and  the  Indians,  under 
cover  of  the  night,  by  ascending  the  Grand  river  far 
enough  to  get  in  their  rear.  This  proposition  was  op 
posed,  however,  by  Colonels  De  Haas  and  Moses  Hazen, 
who  were  satisfied,  from  their  experience,  that  the 
Indians  were  too  vigilant  to  be  surprised,  and  the  propo 
sition  was  finally,  after  much  debate,  voted  down  by  a 
majority  of  the  council. 

The  council  lasted  until  midnight,  and  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning  the  officer  of  the  day  announced  the  ap 
proach  of  Lieutenant  Parke  bearing  a  flag  of  truce.  He 
was  permitted  to  land  and  brought  into  camp  articles 
which  had  been  entered  into  by  Major  Sherburne  and 
Captain  Forster  for  an  exchange  of  the  prisoners.  It 
was  proposed  in  these  articles  that  the  Colonial  troops 
should  be  liberated  upon  their  parole,  not  to  serve  again 


64  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

against  the  king's  forces,  and  that  the  British  troops 
should  be  liberated  without  any  restraint.  This  was  re 
jected  by  Arnold,  and  it  was  finally  arranged  that  the 
prisoners  should  be  exchanged  upon  equal  terms.  Those 
in  Forster's  hands,  consisting  of  Majors  Butterfield  and 
Sherburne,  nine  captains,  twenty  lieutenants,  and  four 
hundred  and  forty-three  soldiers,  were  to  be  sent  to  with 
in  one  league  of  Caughnawaga,  from  thence  to  St.  Johns 
and  their  homes.  Six  days  were  to  be  allowed  for  this 
purpose,  and  hostilities  were  to  cease  in  the  meantime. 
As  there  were  not  an  equal  number  of  prisoners  in  Ar 
nold's  hands,  it  was  stipulated  that  Captains  Sullivan 
and  Bliss  of  Patterson's  regiment,  John  Stevens  of 
Burrell's  and  Ebed  Greene  of  Bedel's  regiment,  should 
be  sent  to  Quebec  as  hostages,  until  an  equal  number 
of  British  prisoners  should  be  released. 

Before  this  flag  of  truce  was  sent,  Sherburne  was 
carried  by  Forster  into  the  council  of  the  Indians,  then 
sitting,  who  told  him  that  it  was  a  mercy  never  before 
shown  in  their  wars,  that  they  had  put  to  death  so  few 
of  their  prisoners,  but  that  he  must  expect,  and  so  in 
form  General  Arnold,  that  they  would  certainly  kill 
every  man  who  thereafter  fell  into  their  hands.  When 
the  American  prisoners  were  sent  from  the  British  camp, 
in  pursuance  of  the  above  cartel,  they  were  treated  with 
every  possible  indignity  by  the  British  and  savages. 
Balls  of  mud  were  fired  at  them  amid  their  jeers,  and 
the  last  detachment  was  fired  upon  with  bullets. 

Arnold  set  out  in  the  evening  for  Montreal,  after  con 
cluding  this  armistice,  leaving  Colonel  De  Haas  in  com 
mand.  Some  skirmishing  was  kept  up,  in  which  private 
Daniel  McCulloh,  of  Captain  Nelson's  company,  was  killed 
on  the  29th  instant.  The  enemy  abandoned  Quinze 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  65 

Chiens,  and  retreated   above    the  Cedars,  and  Colonel 
De  Haas  fell  back  to  La  Chine  on  Thursday,  the  30th. 

Arnold  left  orders  with  Colonel  De  Haas  to  cross  the 
Grand  river  and  burn  the  Indian  town  of  Canassadaga 
and  the  Fort  of  St.  Ann's;  but  after  consultation  with 
his  officers,  a  better  feeling  of  humanity  prevailed,  and 
he  declined  to  do  so. 


CHAPTER   V. 

An  Attempt  to  Recover  the  Lost  Ground  down  the  St.  Lawrence— Colonel  St. 
Clair  is  sent  against  Three  Rivers — Waiting  Impatiently  for  the  First  Penn 
sylvania  Regiment— General  Wooster  Relieved— General  Sullivan  Assumes 
Command  of  the  Army — He  Sends  General  Thompson  with  Additional 
Troops  to  Join  St.  Clair — Captains  Jonathan  Jones  and  Benjamin  Davis 
join  the  Force  under  General  Thompson  with  their  Companies — Arrival 
of  Resolutions  of  Congress  —  Additional  Reinforcements  of  Militia  and 
Indians  ordered  by  Congress — The  Battle  of  Three  Rivers. 

WHILE  these  active  movements  were  going  on  above 
Montreal,  General  Thompson,  at  Sorel,  having  been  in 
formed  that  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  two  or  three 
miles  below  Three  Rivers,  were  high,  and  the  channel 
within  musket-shot  of  the  shore,  determined  that  as 
soon  as  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  returned  he 
would  set  out  with  them  and  some  light  artillery  to 
fortify  that  place.  Before  he  was  able  to  carry  out  this 
design,  however,  he  learned  that  Colonel  Maclean,  with 
about  eight  hundred  regulars  and  Canadians,  had  ad 
vanced  as  far  up  the  St.  Lawrence  as  Three  Rivers,  and 
was  intrenched  at  that  place. 

He  accordingly  sent  Colonel  St.  Clair,  with  part  of  the 
Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  Colonel  Maxwell, 
with  the  Second  New  Jersey,  in  all  between  six  hundred 
and  seven  hundred  men,  to  attack  Maclean's  camp,  if  it 
could  be  done  with  the  least  prospect  of  success.  He  also 
wrote  to  General  Arnold  to  send  him  the  First  Pennsyl 
vania,  and  to  Brigadier-General  Baron  de  Woedtke,  at  St. 
Johns,  to  hasten  forward  the  first  regiment  that  should 

(66) 


THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  67 

arrive  there  from  the  south,  intending,  as  soon  as  these 
troops  should  join  him,  to  reinforce  St.  Clair  with  them, 
and  make  the  most  of  his  victory,  if  he  was  successful, 
or  cover  his  retreat  if  he  failed.  "  Could  I  have  com 
mand  of  the  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  regiments,"  he 
wrote  to  Washington  on  the  2d  of  June,  with  more  con 
fidence  than  his  surroundings  warranted,  "  I  still  believe, 
if  I  did  not  keep  the  country,  it  would  require  at  least 
five  thousand  men  to  oblige  us  to  evacuate  it."  More 
than  double  that  number  of  British  troops  were  then  in 
Canada,  but  so  little  effort  had  been  made  by  the  Ameri 
can  officers  to  obtain  reliable  information  of  the  move 
ments  of  the  enemy,  that  they  were  entirely  ignorant  of 
the  fact. 

St.  Clair,  with  his  detachment,  left  Sorel  in  boats  on 
the  1st  of  June,  and  dropped  down  through  Lake  St. 
Peter  (a  broad  expanse  of  the  St.  Lawrence)  to  Nicolet, 
on  the  south  side  of  that  river,  about  nine  miles  above 
Three  Rivers.  Here  he  landed  his  troops,  and  awaited 
further  developments. 

In  the  meantime  General  Thompson*  sent  the  sick 
and  heavy  baggage  up  the  Sorel  river  to  Chamblee  and 
St.  Johns,  so  as  to  facilitate  his  retreat  should  it  become 
necessary,  and  stationed  a  guard  of  fifty  men,  composed 
of  parts  of  Bond's,  Bedel's,  and  Burrell's  regiments,  at 
Berthier,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  This, 

*  WILLIAM  THOMPSON  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  had  been  a  captain  in 
the  seven  years'  war,  and  became  colonel  of  the  six  companies  of  riflemen,  after 
wards  increased  to  eight,  raised  in  Pennsylvania  by  order  of  Congress  in  June, 
1775.  With  them  he  joined  Washington's  army  at  Cambridge.  He  was  made 
brigadier-general  by  Congress,  March  1st,  1776,  and  was  ordered  to  Xew  York, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  20th,  and  commanded  the  post  until  the  arrival  of 
Washington,  when  he  was  ordered  to  Canada.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Three  Rivers,  and  was  not  exchanged  until  1778.  He  died  near  Carlisle,  Penn 
sylvania,  September  4th,  1781. 


68  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

with  the  force  sent  against  Maclean  at  Three  Rivers,  and 
the  men  detailed  to  row  and  attend  the  sick,  depleted 
his  force  at  Sorel  to  two  hundred  men.  He  therefore 
waited  impatiently  for  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
to  join  him.  Colonel  De  Haas,  in  obedience  to  his  orders, 
had  left  Montreal  with  the  regiment  on  the  4th  of  June, 
and  had  proceeded  to  within  eighteen  miles  of  Sorel, 
when  General  Arnold,  who  had  received  intelligence  that 
four  hundred  Indians  were  on  Montreal  Island,  with  the 
intention  of  attacking  the  outpost  at  La  Chine,  ordered 
him  to  return. 

Upon  the  death  of  General  Thomas,  the  command  of 
the  army  devolved  upon  General  John  Sullivan,  who 
arrived  at  Chamblee  with  his  detachment  from  New  York 
on  the  very  day  that  General  Thomas  died.  General 
Wooster  had  been  relieved  by  order  of  Congress,  and 
was  then  on  his  way  to  his  home  in  Connecticut.  He 
afterwards  demanded  an  inquiry  into  his  conduct  in 
Canada,  and  the  committee  appointed  by  Congress  for 
that  purpose  reported  that  nothing  censurable  or  blame 
worthy  appeared  against  him.  He  resigned  his  commis 
sion  in  the  Continental  army,  was  appointed  first  major- 
general  of  the  Connecticut  militia,  and  was  killed  in  a 
skirmish  near  Ridgefield,  Connecticut,  April  27th,  1777, 
in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

Sullivan  was  so  much  elated  at  finding  himself  in 
possession  of  a  separate  command  that  he  allowed  his  en 
thusiasm  to  get  the  better  of  his  judgment.  His  head  was 
completely  turned  by  his  unexpected  good  fortune.  It 
led  him  to  believe  that  the  whole  of  Canada  was  within 
his  grasp.  "  The  enemy's  ships  are  now  above  Descham- 
bault,"  he  wrote  to  Washington,  "  but  if  General  Thomp 
son  succeeds  at  Three  Rivers,  I  will  soon  remove  the 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  69 

ships  below  Richelieu  Falls,  and  after  that  approach 
Quebec  as  fast  as  possible."  This  rodomontade,  with 
others  of  like  character  that  quickly  followed  it,  raised 
false  hopes  in  the  breast  of  the  command er-in-chief, 
which  it  took  but  a  few  days  for  the  disastrous  events 
which  were  then  rapidly  approaching  to  destroy. 

His  vanity  led  him  with  haste  to  speak  disparagingly, 
and  even  contemptuously,  of  the  misfortunes  of  the 
troops  which  had  preceded  him.  He  hastily  ordered  all 
the  heavy  baggage  and  intrenching  tools  back  to  Sorel, 
and  embarked  for  that  place  himself  on  the  3d.  He 
arrived  there  early  on  the  4th.  "I  venture  to  assure  you 
and  the  Congress,"  he  wrote  vaingloriously  to  Washing 
ton,  "that  I  can,  in  a  few  days,  reduce  the  army  to  order, 
and  with  the  assistance  of  a  kind  Providence,  put  a  new 
face  to  our  affairs  here,  which  a  few  days  since  seemed 
almost  impossible."  He  immediately  repeated  General 
Thompson's  order  to  Arnold  to  send  the  First  Pennsyl 
vania  Regiment  to  Sorel,  and  upon  learning  from  Arnold 
that  he  had  sent  it  back  to  La  Chine,  he  sent  dispatches 
to  him  by  Captain  John  Lacey,  of  Wayne's  Regiment,  at 
four  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  5th,  in  which  he 
stated  that  a  number  of  the  king's  troops  were  between 
him  and  Three  Rivers;  that  he  expected  soon  to  be  at 
tacked,  and  peremptorily  ordered  Arnold  to  send  every 
man  that  could  be  spared  to  his  assistance. 

Sullivan  wrote  to  Washington,  with  some  impatience, 
of  Arnold's  conduct.  "By  some  strange  kind  of  conduct 
in  General  Arnold,"  he  wrote,  "directly  contrary  to  re 
peated  orders,  he  has  kept  that  detachment  (Colonel  De 
Haas')  dancing  between  this  and  Montreal  ever  since  my 
arrival." 

Sullivan  and  Thompson  were  anxious  for  the  presence 


70  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

of  these  Pennsylvania  troops,  because  they  were  obliged  t 
to  rely  for  support  almost  entirely  upon  them.  Sullivan 
and  Colonel  Trumbull,  both  New  England  men,  frequently 
spoke  of  them  as  the  elite  and  flower  of  the  army.  The 
New  England  troops  were  so  much  infected  with  or  afraid 
of  small-pox,  that  they  were  almost  prevented  by  the  dis 
ease  or  their  fears  of  it  from  doing  duty.  Of  the  fifteen 
regiments  which  then  composed  the  army,  De  Haas',  St. 
Glair's,  Wayne's,  and  Irvine's  Pennsylvania,  and  Wind's 
and  Maxwell's  New  Jersey  regiments  constituted  nearly 
the  whole  available  force.  The  six  New  England  regi 
ments  of  Greaton,  Bond,  Patterson,  Stark,  Reed,  and  Poor 
did  not  together  contain  one  hundred  men  fit  for  duty. 

On  the  evening  of  Thursday  (the  6th),  Sullivan  sent 
General  Thompson  with  three  companies  of  Wayne's,  the 
remainder  of  St.  Glair's,  and  the  whole  of  Irvine's  regi 
ments,  in  all  about  one  thousand  men,  to  reinforce  Colonel 
St.  Glair  at  Nicolet.  They  reached  there  at  midnight, 
when  General  Thompson  assumed  command  of  the  whole 
force.  "  I  have  the  highest  opinion  of  the  bravery  and 
resolution  of  the  troops  you  command,"  wrote  Sullivan 
in  his  instructions  to  General  Thompson,  "  and  doubt  not 
but  under  the  direction  of  a  kind  Providence  you  will 
open  the  way  for  our  recovering  that  ground  which 
former  troops  have  so  shamefully  lost." 

On  the  receipt  of  Sullivan's  last  order,  Arnold  imme 
diately  sent  the  companies  of  Jonathan  Jones  and  Ben 
jamin  Davis  in  boats  down  the  St.  Lawrence.  They 
touched  at  Sorel  on  the  night  of  the  6th,  and  were 
ordered  by  Sullivan  to  immediately  follow  General 
Thompson  down  the  river.  They  crossed  Lake  St.  Peter 
that  night,  keeping  close  to  the  southern  shore,  and  joined 
the  troops  at  Nicolet  on  the  morning  of  the  7th.  They 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  71 

were  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Wayne. 
Their  arms  were  wet,  and  the  men  were  much  fatigued. 
The  other  companies  of  the  First  Pennsylvania,  owing  to 
the  scarcity  of  boats,  were  sent  by  Arnold  to  Chamblee, 
and  they  reached  Sorel  on  the  8th,  the  day  of  the  battle 
of  Three  Rivers. 

Captain  Ebenezer  Stevens,  with  the  two  companies  of 
artillery  under  his  command,  was  also  ordered  to  Three 
Rivers,  but  the  ground  not  proving  favorable  for  artillery 
he  was  ordered  back  by  General  Thompson  without 
landing. 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  June, 
Sullivan  also  sent  Colonel  Wind's  First  New  Jersey  Regi 
ment  to  reinforce  Thompson,  but  they  did  not  reach  him 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Three  Rivers. 

As  General  Thompson  was  about  embarking  from  Sorel 
for  Nicolet,  the  resolutions  of  Congress,  passed  May 
25th,  arrived  and  infused  new  spirit  and  determination 
into  the  troops.  The  resolutions  set  forth  that  Canada 
was  of  the  last  importance  to  the  welfare  of  the  United 
Colonies.  "  Should  our  troops  retire  before  the  enemy," 
said  the  letter  of  the  President  of  Congress  which  en 
closed  them,  "  and  entirely  evacuate  that  province,  it  is 
not  in  human  wisdom  to  foretell  the  consequences.  In 
this  case  the  loss  of  Canada  will  not  be  all — the  whole 
frontiers  of  the  New  England  and  New  York  govern 
ments  will  be  exposed,  not  only  to  the  ravages  of  Indians, 
but  also  the  British  forces.  Congress  are  determined  not 
to  relinquish  the  expedition  or  give  it  up." 

As  an  earnest  of  their  sincerity  in  the  matter,  they 
sent  to  General  Schuyler  on  the  same  day  the  last  penny 
of  hard  money  they  had  in  the  treasury,  amounting  ex 
actly  to  £1662  Is.  3d. 


I*  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

At  the  same  time  came  a  letter  from  Washington  ad 
dressed  to  the  late  General  Thomas.  "  This  unfortunate 
affair  (the  retreat  from  Quebec),"  he  wrote,  "has  given, 
a  sad  shock  to  our  schemes  in  that  quarter  and  blasted 
the  hope  we  entertained  of  reducing  that  fortress  and 
the  whole  of  Canada  to  our  possession." 

Congress  also  resolved,  on  the  1st  of  June,  that  six 
thousand  militia  should  be  employed  from  Massachusetts, 
New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  and  New  York  to  reinforce 
the  army  in  Canada,  and  keep  open  the  communications 
with  that  province.  They  also  reversed  their  previous 
policy  in  relation  to  the  employment  of  Indians  in  the 
military  service,  and  resolved  to  raise  three  thousand  of 
them  for  service  in  Canada.  General  Schuyler,  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  temper  of  the  Indians  of  that 
region,  inquired,  in  reply,  where  these  Indians  were  to 
come  from,  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  utmost 
that  could  be  hoped  from  them  in  the  waning  state  of 
the  American  cause  in  Canada  was  neutrality.  For  the 
purpose  of  securing  even  this  much  from  them,  he  sub 
sequently  held  a  conference,  by  direction  of  Washington, 
and  made  a  treaty  with  the  Six  Nations  at  German 
Flats. 

During  the  whole  of  Friday,  the  7th  of  June,  the 
troops  lay  quietly  at  Nicolet,  partly  to  refresh  the  men, 
and  partly  because  they  could  not  have  crossed  the  river 
without  being  discovered  from  the  enemy's  vessels  which 
were  then  lying,  ten  in  number,  at  anchor  five  miles  above 
Three  Rivers. 

Everything  was  in  readiness,  however,  and  at  nine 
o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  7th  they  crossed  the  lower 
end  of  Lake  St.  Peter,  about  three  miles  above  the  ship 
ping,  and  landed  at  Point  Du  Lac,  on  the  opposite  side, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA. 


73 


about  nine  miles  above  Three  Rivers.  Here  General 
Thompson  detailed  a  guard  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
under  Major  Joseph  Wood,  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania, 
to  take  charge  of  the  boats,  which  were  about  fifty  in 
number.  The  remaining  force  under  General  Thompson 
was  divided  into  five  divisions,  commanded  by  Colonels 
Maxwell,  St.  Glair,  Wayne,  and  Irvine,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Thomas  Hartley  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania, 
whose  division  formed  the  reserve.  Thus  organized 
they  began  their  march  rapidly  for  Three  Rivers.  It 
will  be  observed  that  this  entire  force  was  composed  of 
Pennsylvania  troops,  with  the  exception  of  Maxwell's 
New  Jersey  regiment,  and  that  it  was  commanded  by  a 
Pennsylvania  general.  They  were  ignorant  of  the  force 
of  the  enemy  (as  to  which,  as  they  soon  discovered, 
they  had  been  greatly  deceived)  and  of  the  country, 
which  made  them  entirely  dependent  upon  their  guides. 
Through  the  treachery  of  these  they  were  led  out  of 
their  way  into  a  deep  morass,  which  was  almost  impassa 
ble.  They  struggled  through  it  with  great  perseverence, 
difficulty,  and  fatigue,  up  to  their  waists  for  hours,  some 
of  the  men  losing  their  shoes  and  stockings.  Finding  it 
impossible  to  proceed  in  that  direction,  they  returned 
toward  the  St.  Lawrence,  but  it  was  daybreak  before 
they  were  able  to  extricate  themselves  from  the  swamp. 
They  were  then  opposite  the  enemy's  shipping,  from 
which  a  fierce  cannonade  was  opened  upon  them  that  was 
distinctly  heard  at  Sorel.  The  fire  was  returned  by  the 
troops  with  small  arms  (for  they  had  no  artillery),  with 
some  effect  upon  a  squad  in  a  barge. 

Though  exhausted  by  their  night  struggle  in  the  marsh, 
they  continued  their  march  for  three-quarters  of  a  mile, 
within  fifty  yards  of  the  river,  under  a  galling  fire  from 


74  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

the  shipping,  when  they  were  driven  off  from  the  shore 
by  the  effect  which  the  fire  began  to  produce  upon  their 
ranks,  and  soon  became  entangled  in  the  swamp  again. 
At  this  point  the  divisions  of  St.  Clair  and  Irvine  sepa 
rated  from  the  divisions  of  Maxwell,  Wayne,  and  Hartley, 
the  two  former,  with  General  Thompson,  inarching  in  a 
north-easterly  direction  back  from  the  river ;  the  three 
latter  divisions  continuing  their  march  near  the  shore. 
Colonel  Wayne's  division  (writh  whom  were  Captains 
Jones'  and  Davis'  companies  of  the  First  Pennsylvania) 
was  in  advance,  and  reached  the  clearing  in  front  of  the 
town  about  8  o'clock.  It  was  supported  by  Maxwell's 
division,  with  the  reserve  under  Hartley  in  the  rear. 
Wayne  here  discovered  the  advance-guard  of  the  enemy, 
composed  of  the  Ninth  and  Sixty-second  regiments  of 
Light  Infantry  and  a  few  Indians  under  Colonel  Maclean. 

After  the  retreat  of  the  colonial  troops  from  Quebec, 
General  Carleton  had  ordered  all  the  British  troops  to 
assemble  at  Three  Rivers,  where  it  was  expected  the 
Americans  would  make  a  stand.  For  this  place  the  re 
inforcements  pushed  forward  with  great  expedition,  by 
land  and  water,  as  fast  as  they  arrived.  A  large  number 
of  British  and  Irish  regiments  wrere  now  there  under 
Lieutenant-General  Burgoyne,  who  had  sailed  from  Spit- 
head  on  the  4th  of  April,  in  the  frigate  Blonde.  A  por 
tion  of  these  were  intrenched  on  shore,  with  Maclean's 
Royal  Highland  Emigrants,  a  body  of  Indians,  and  Cana 
dian  volunteers  under  command  of  Brigadier-General 
Simon  Fraser.  The  remainder  were  on  board  the  vessels 
in  the  river,  with  a  portion  of  the  Brunswick  regiment 
Riedesel,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Specht, 
who  were  on  board  the  Harmony. 

The  companies  of  Captains  Strangway  and  Ferguson, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  75 

the  light  infantry  companies  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regi 
ment,  and  two  companies  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Regiment, 
were  detailed  to  guard  the  pass  of  the  river,  and  took  no 
part  in  the  engagement.  General  Carleton,  who  had 
gone  back  to  Quebec  temporarily,  returned  to  Three 
Rivers  on  the  evening  of  the  Sth,  the  day  of  the  battle. 

Wayne  at  once  attacked  the  advance-guard  of  the 
enemy  and  drove  them  in  upon  the  main  body,  two 
thousand  or  three  thousand  strong,  under  Brigadier- 
General  Fraser,  strongly  intrenched  before  the  town. 
The  Americans,  though  wearied  by  loss  of  sleep  and 
their  toilsome  march  through  the  swamp,  displayed  great 
courage  and  gallantry,  but  the  enemy  opened  such  a 
murderous  fire  upon  them  from  behind  their  works  that 
they  were  forced  to  give  way.  There  was  some  loss  on 
both  sides. 

In  the  meantime  the  British  shipping  had  dropped 
down  the  river,  and  Brigadier-General  Nesbitt  landed 
with  troops  in  the  rear  of  the  Americans. 

St.  Glair's  and  Irvine's  divisions,  with  General  Thomp 
son,  by  this  time  had  reached  the  edge  of  the  swamp 
half  a  mile  above,  on  the  left,  and  were  advancing  to 
support  Wayne  and  Maxwell;  but  not  being  able  to  rally 
the  men,  who  by  this  time  were  retreating  in  disorder 
and  confusion,  General  Thompson  ordered  the  whole 
force  to  fall  back  fifty  paces,  to  the  cover  of  the  wood. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hartley,  perceiving  the  confusion, 
led  up  the  reserves,  and  endeavored  to  cover  the  retreat. 
He  engaged  the  enemy  with  much  spirit,  but  was  obliged 
by  the  overwhelming  force  to  fall  back. 

Wayne  succeeded  in  forming  his  men  at  the  edge  of  the 
wood,  and  for  a  few  moments  held  the  enemy  in  check; 
but  perceiving  that  a  strong  detachment  had  landed  from 


76  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

the  vessels  in  his  rear,  and  cut  off  the  retreat  to  the  boats, 
and  the  overwhelming  numbers  which  were  advancing  in 
his  front,  he  ordered  a  retreat,  which  took  place  in  much 
confusion  and  disorder.  It  was  impossible  to  regain  the 
road,  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  enemy,  and  the 
Americans  fled  with  precipitation  into  the  swamp. 

Generals  Fraser  and  Nesbitt  followed  by  the  road 
along  the  river's  edge  with  a  large  body,  as  far  as  La 
Chine  and  Point  Du  Lac,  at  the  foot  of  Lake  St.  Peter. 

Wayne  retreated  with  his  division  close  to  the  river, 
and  kept  up  a  running  fire  with  the  enemy,  in  an  en 
deavor  to  reach  the  boats,  which  had  been  left  under 
guard  at  Point  Du  Lac.  They  came  within  sight  of 
them.  All  except  two  (which  had  been  captured)  had 
been  removed  by  Major  Wood  and  the  guard,  who  had 
escaped  in  them  up  the  river,  and  the  enemy  were  in 
possession  of  the  landing.  The  shipping  of  the  enemy 
was  also  passing  up  the  river  to  cut  off  all  the  ferries. 
Nothing  was  left,  therefore,  to  the  unfortunate  Conti 
nentals,  but  the  hard  fate  of  continuing  their  retreat 
through  the  woods  and  deep,  endless  morasses,  without 
food,  lying  down  at  night,  near  the  enemy,  to  sleep  from 
sheer  exhaustion. 

General  Thompson  and  Colonel  Irvine,  with  about 
forty  men  (afterwards  reduced  to  seven),  were  cut  off 
from  the  main  body,  and  wandered  about  the  swamps 
utterly  exhausted,  for  twenty-four  hours,  when,  finding 
themselves  surrounded,  they  surrendered  to  General 
Nesbitt,  who  treated  them  cruelly,  and  marched  them, 
under  a  strong  guard,  with  the  common  crowd  of  prison 
ers,  for  six  miles  to  headquarters.  "  Generals  Carleton 
and  Burgoyne  were  both  there,  who  treated  us  very 
politely,"  Colonel  Irvine  notes  in  his  diary ;  "  they 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  77 

ordered  us  refreshments  immediately;  indeed,  General 
Burgoyne  served  us  himself." 

On  the  following  day,  which  was  Sunday,  the  British 
forces  were  ordered  back  to  their  stations  at  Three 
Rivers.  The  colonial  troops,  which  were  scatterd  through 
the  marshes,  began  to  join  the  main  body  until  their 
numbers  were  increased  to  twelve  hundred,  with  which 
force  they  arrived  at  Berthier,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 
Sorel,  on  the  evening  of  the  10th.* 

Colonel  Wayne,  in  an  order  to  his  troops  dated  the 
llth,  says  of  them  : — "  Their  spirited  conduct  in  bravely 
attacking  and  sustaining  the  fire  from  both  great  and 
small  arms  of  an  enemy  more  than  ten  times  their  num 
ber,  merits  the  colonel's  highest  approbation." 

The  American  loss  in  the  battle  of  Three  Rivers  was 
about  two  hundred  prisoners  and  twenty-five  killed,  most 
of  the  latter  being  from  Wayne's  and  Maxwell's  divisions, 
who  had  borne  the  brunt  of  the  fight.  Chaplain  Mc- 
Calla,  of  the  First  Pennsylvania,  was  among  the  prisoners. 

*  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  HARTLEY,  in  writing  of  this  battle,  says :— "  Not  a 
man  of  McClean's  company  behaved  ill.  Grier's  company  behaved  well.  Several 
of  the  enemy  were  killed  in  the  attack  of  the  reserve.  Under  the  disadvantages 
our  men  would  fight,  but  we  had  no  covering,  no  artillery,  and  no  prospects  of 
succeeding,  as  the  number  of  the  enemy  was  so  much  superior  to  ours.  Colonel 
Wayne  behaved  exceedingly  well,  and  showed  himself  the  man  of  courage  and 
the  soldier.  Colonel  Allen  exerted  himself,  and  is  a  fine  fellow.  Colonel  Max 
well  was  often  in  the  midst  of  danger.  His  own  division  was  not  present  to 
support  him.  He  was  also  very  useful  in  the  retreat,  after  he  joined  Colonel 
Wayne.  Lieutenant  Edie,  of  the  York  troops,  I  fear,  is  killed.  He  was  a  fine 
young  fellow,  and  behaved  bravely.  He  approached  the  enemy's  works  without 
dismay  several  times,  and  remained  in  the  swamps  to  the  last.  He  was  in  the 
second  engagemnt,  where  it  is  supposed  he  was  killed.  Ensign  Hopes,  of  the 
same  company,  was  wounded  near  the  breast- work,  when  I  led  up  the  reserve.  I 
can  not  give  too  much  commendation  of  him.  He  showed  the  greatest  courage 
after  he  had  received  several  wounds  in  the  arm.  He  stood  his  ground  and 
animated  his  men.  He  nobly  made  good  his  retreat  with  me,  through  a  swamp 
of  near  eighteen  miles  long.  The  ball  has  hurt  the  bone.  Several  of  our  men 
were  killed — I  apprehend  between  thirty  and  fifty.  The  rest  missing,  have  been 
taken,  quite  worn-out  with  fatigue  and  hunger." 


78  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

The  British  loss  was  eight  killed,  including  a  sergeant  of 
the  Thirty-first  and  three  men  of  the  TAventieth  Regi 
ments,  and  nine  wounded,  eight  of  whom  were  of  the 
Sixty-second  regiment.  The  wounded  of  both  sides  were 
taken  together  to  the  Convent  of  the  Ursulines,  where 
they  received  humane  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the 
nuns.  The  prisoners  were  released  by  Carle  ton  on  their 
parole,  and  sent  to  New  York  on  the  6th  of  August. 

It  becomes  marvelous  in  the  extreme,  when  we  re 
count  the  perils  of  their  situation,  that  so  many  of  the 
Americans  escaped.  The  movement  was  a  daring  and 
courageous  one,  ill-advised  though  it  proved  to  be.  It 
exposed  the  whole  force,  through  the  difficulties  of  the 
country,  the  great  superiority  of  the  enemy  by  land  and 
water,  and  the  forlorn  condition  of  the  Americans,  to  im 
minent  danger  of  capture.  The  advantages  were  all 
with  the  British.  That  they  failed  to  reap  the  benefit  of 
them,  was  owing  in  no  small  degree  to  the  courage,  en 
durance,  and  indomitable  spirit  of  the  American  troops. 

When  the  news  of  the  defeat  at  Three  Rivers  reached 
the  colonies,  great  fears  were  naturally  entertained  for 
the  safety  of  the  whole  army.  "  The  accounts  trans 
mitted  by  General  Sullivan  are  truly  alarming,"  wrote 
Washington  to  Schuyler,  when  he  received  the  news  of 
that  disaster,  "and  I  confess  I  am  not  without  apprehen 
sion  lest  the  next  advices  should  be  that  the  unfortunate 
defeat  and  taking  of  General  Thompson  has  been  suc 
ceeded  by  an  event  still  more  unfortunate — the  destruc 
tion  of  a  large  part,  if  not  the  whole,  of  our  army  in  that 
quarter.  The  weak,  divided,  and  disheartened  state  in 
which  General  Sullivan  represents  it  to  be,  does  not  seem 
to  promise  anything  much  more  favorable,  and  is  what 
General  Arnold  appears  to  be  suspicious  of."  The  de- 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  79 

spondency  expressed  in  this  letter  was  shared  by  Con 
gress  and  the  colonists,  who  had  been  looking  hopefully 
for  more  satisfactory  results. 

The  fate  of  this  army  had  been  a  hard  one  ;  and  many 
months  of  peril  and  suffering  were  yet  before  it,  but 
against  this  total  destruction,  which  was  reasonably  to  be 
anticipated,  and  which  would  have  brought  relief  to  their 
bodies,  their  spirits  were  destined  to  contend  successfully, 
and  to  bring  them  safely  out  of  their  present  perils,  to 
render  their  country  signal  service  before  the  campaign 
was  over. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Sullivan's  force  after  the  Battle  of  Three  Elvers— Condition  of  the  Troops- 
Desertions — Fortifying  the  post  at  Sorel — The  Retreat — The  retreating 
Americans  reach  Chamblee — Brunswick  and  Hessian  troops — George  III. 
contracts  for  them  with  the  German  princes — Departure  of  the  first  detach 
ment  for  Quebec  under  Bledesel — Arrival  of  General  Burgoyne  with  British 
reinforcements — The  British  army  which  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence — 
Pursuit  of  the  Americans  up  the  Sorel  river — The  Americans  burn  Cham 
blee  and  continue  their  retreat  to  St.  Johns — The  sick  are  sent  to  Isle  aux 
Noix — Arnold's  retreat  from  Montreal — The  Americans  retreat  to  Isle  aux 
Noix,  and  the  British  occupy  St.  Johns — Congress  and  Washington  recon 
ciled  to  the  situation — Congress  inquires  into  the  causes  of  the  disasters  in 
Canada. 

SULLIVAN'S  effective  force  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel, 
after  the  battle  of  Three  Rivers,  did  not  exceed  twenty- 
five  hundred  men.  It  was  made  up  of  four  hundred  and 
twenty-four  New  England  troops  belonging  to  the  regi 
ments  of  Stark  (New  Hampshire),  Porter  (Massachu 
setts),  and  Burrell  (Connecticut);  six  hundred  and 
eighty-one  New  Jersey  troops  of  Wind's  and  Maxwell's 
regiments ;  and  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  men  of  the  Pennsylvania  regiments  of  De  Haas,  St. 
Glair,  Wayne,  and  Irvine.  In  addition  to  these  there 
were  four  companies  of  artillery  with  two  four-pounders. 

The  remainder  of  the  army  was  scattered  at  different 
posts  in  the  neighborhood.  Reed's  New  Hampshire  and 
Patterson's  Massachusetts,  with  three  hundred  men  fit 
for  duty,  were  at  Montreal ;  Poor's  New  Hampshire,  with 
two  hundred  and  seventy-seven  men  fit  for  duty,  and 

(SO) 


THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE   CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  81 

Greaton's  Massachusetts,  every  man  of  which  was  in  the 
hospital,  were  at  St.  Johns.  Parts  of  Bond's  Massachu 
setts,  Bedel's  New  Hampshire,  and  Burrell's  Connecticut 
regiments  formed  the  guard  at  Berthier,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  St.  Lawrence ;  and  part  of  Porter's  Massa 
chusetts  regiment  was  at  Chamblee.  There  were  about 
three  thousand  sick  at  St.  Johns. 

Small-pox,  famine,  raggedness,  defeat,  and  disorder 
had  broken  the  spirit  of  this  little  army  and  rendered  it 
very  inefficient.  The  patriots  of  whom  it  was  composed 
had  patiently  and  perseveringly  suffered  every  privation 
and  physical  hardship  they  were  able  to  bear,  and  had 
made  every  effort  they  were  able  to  make  to  retain  their 
hold  upon  Canada.  But  everything  had  been  against 
them  from  the  first,  and  now  was  added  the  insurmount 
able  disadvantage  of  an  enemy  greatly  superior  in  num 
bers  and  completely  equipped.  If  any  one  was  responsible 
for  the  loss  of  Canada  the  blame  could  not  be  laid  to  the 
charge  of  these  suffering  troops.  They  had  been  sent  in 
mid-winter,  without  credit,  without  supplies  either  of 
money,  provisions,  clothing,  or  munitions  of  war,  and 
without  the  necessary  reinforcements,  into  a  country 
which,  though  friendly  at  first,  had  become  practically  a 
hostile  province.  To  these  difficulties,  most  of  which 
might  have  been  avoided,  was  superadded  the  calamity 
of  a  loathsome  and  fatal  disease,  which,  taking  advantage 
of  their  weakness,  had  made  frightful  gaps  in  their  ranks, 
had  carried  off  their  general,  and  left  the  whole  army 
almost  without  hope. 

Notwithstanding  their  forlorn  condition,  a  severe  meas 
ure  of  duty  was  exacted  of  them.  An  order  of  the  day, 
issued  on  the  llth,  ran  as  follows  : — "  Every  non-com 
missioned  officer  or  soldier  who  shall  come  to  the  parade 


82  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

dirty,  with  a  long  beard,  or  his  breeches-knees  open,  shall 
be  mulcted  of  a  day's  allowance  of  provision,  and  do  a 
double  tour  of  duty." 

Desertions  from  Sorel,  St.  Johns,  and  Chamblee  were 
of  daily  occurrence.  Rather  than  longer  endure  the 
hardships  of  the  camp,  the  deserters  preferred  to  face  the 
dangers  of  starvation  in  the  wilderness  bordering  on  the 
sides  of  the  lakes  through  which  they  were  obliged  to 
pass  before  they  could  reach  their  homes. 

Despite  the  distressed  and  forlorn  condition  of  these 
men,  unwearied  pains  were  taken  to  fortify  the  post  at 
Sorel.  Earthworks  were  thrown  up  enclosing  the  camp, 
and  a  battery  was  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
upon  which  three  guns  of  heavy  calibre  were  mounted. 
But  these  were  the  works  of  desperate  men,  bent  on  do 
ing  their  whole  duty  with  all  the  means  at  their  com 
mand,  rather  than  the  fruits  of  a  hopeful  design  of  hold 
ing  the  place  against  the  progress  of  the  victorious 
British  army,  for  when  information  reached  them  that 
the  British  fleet  had  entered  Lake  St.  Peter,  Sullivan 
called  a  council  of  war  to  consider  the  situation,  and  it 
was  unanimously  resolved  that  it  would  be  worse  than 
useless  to  attempt  to  defend  the  place  against  the  guns 
of  the  fleet  and  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  who 
had  with  them  a  very  complete  train  of  artillery.  A 
retreat  was  accordingly  determined  upon.  Hasty  prepa 
rations  were  made,  and  on  the  14th,  in  dejection  and 
suffering,  the  army  moved  toward  the  south.  The  annals 
of  war  do  not  contain  a  sadder  tale  than  is  furnished  by 
the  story  of  this  retreat.  They  brought  everything  off 
with  them.  Not  even  an  intrenching  tool  was  left  behind. 
Their  afflicted  comrades  were  the  special  object  of  their 
solicitude,  and  it  mattered  not  that  they  carried  with 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  83 

them  the  pestilence  that  had  eaten  the  very  life  out  of 
the  army.  The  baggage,  heavy  ordnance,  and  stores 
were  placed  on  board  of  several  vessels  under  the  charge 
of  Major  Nathan  Fuller,  of  Bond's  regiment.  With  the 
aid  of  favorable  winds  these  vessels  made  very  good  prog 
ress  for  a  few  miles,  when  they  were  becalmed,  and  soon 
fell  behind.  General  Sullivan  found  it  necessary  to  send 
back  one  hundred  bateaux  to  their  relief  in  order  to  pre 
vent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  To 
these  bateaux  every  thing  was  transferred  and  the  ves 
sels  burned.  They  rowed  their  boats  against  the  current 
of  the  Sorel  river  and  marched  by  the  shore.  Though 
weary  from  fatigue  and  improper  nourishment,  they  were 
obliged  to  drag  the  boats  containing  the  batteries,  bag 
gage,  provisions,  and  sick  over  the  lower  rapids,  where 
the  water  was  only  one  and  a  half  feet  deep — wading  up 
to  their  waists  in  mud  and  water;  but  by  that  untiring 
perseverance  which  characterized  all  the  movements  of 
that  remarkable  struggle,  they  brought  everything  up 
but  the  three  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  which  had 
mounted  the  battery  at  Sorel.  "The  fatigue  we  had  to 
save  our  bateaux,  cannon,  &c.,"  General  Sullivan  writes, 
"and  get  them  over  the  rapids,  was  beyond  anything 
that  ever  I  went  through,  and  what  was  never  done  by 
an  army  in  our  situation  before,  and  what,  for  my  own 
part,  I  never  wish  to  attempt  again." 

About  9  o'clock  on  Saturday  night,  the  15th,  the  head 
of  the  army  reached  Chamblee,  and  the  men,  over 
whelmed  with  fatigue,  and  poorly  refreshed  on  pork  and 
flour,  lay  down  to  rest.  The  night  was  very  dark,  and 
the  rain  poured  down  in  torrents.  Every  place  along 
the  road  that  afforded  shelter  was  crowded  with  the  un 
fortunate  soldiers  who  composed  this  shattered  army. 


84  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

Thus  huddled  together,  they  were  permitted  for  a  few 
hours  to  forget  in  sleep  their  great  sufferings. 

Leaving  them  there,  we  will  retrace  our  steps  for  a 
moment,  and  follow  the  progress  of  the  British  army, 
which  was  then  in  close  pursuit  upon  their  rear. 

Reinforcements  for  this  army  had  continued  to  arrive 
at  Quebec  in  detachments  until  the  1st  of  June,  during  the 
night  of  which  day  the  first  division  of  the  Brunswick 
troops  arrived. 

In  the  fall  of  1775,  George  III.  applied  to  the  Em 
press  Catharine  of  Russia  for  twenty  thousand  Russian 
troops,  upon  any  terms  which  she  might  name,  to  be 
employed  in  subduing  his  subjects  in  America ;  but  she 
rejected  his  proposition  with  indignation.  He  after 
wards  applied  with  more  success  to  the  Landgrave  of 
Hesse-Cassel,  the  Duke  of  Brunswick,  and  the  Count  of 
Hesse-Hanau.  For  each  soldier  furnished  by  them  they 
received  the  sum  of  £7  4s.  4d.,  as  much  more  for  every 
one  that  was  killed,  and,  in  addition,  an  annual  subsidy 
of  one  hundred  crowns  per  head. 

In  pursuance  of  the  treaty  made  with  these  German 
princes,  a  regiment  of  unmounted  dragoons,  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Baum,  who  fell  at  Bennington  in  the  fol 
lowing  year ;  a  regiment  of  infantry  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Praetorius,  named  the  Prince  Frederick ;  a  regi 
ment  of  infantry  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Specht,  named 
Riedesel ;  and  a  battalion  of  grenadiers,  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Breymann,  who  was  mortally  wounded 
at  Saratoga,  October  7th,  1777 ,  numbering  in  all  about 
two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  and  commanded  by 
Major-General  Riedesel,  marched  from  Brunswick,  on  the 
22d  of  February,  for  Stade,  in  Hanover,  from  whence 
they  sailed  down  the  Elbe  on  the  21st  of  March,  and 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  85 

arrived  at  Spithead  on  the  28th.  Here  they  remained 
for  a  week,  which  was  consumed  in  an  interchange  of 
hospitalities  between  the  British  officers  and  General 
Riedesel.  They  were  joined  at  Spithead,  on  the  30th, 
by  a  regiment  of  Hesse-Hanau  troops,  six  hundred  strong, 
under  Colonel  Yon  Gall,  who  was  subsequently  made  a 
brigadier-general.  The  bartering  of  these  troops  created 
great  indignation  throughout  Germany.  Frederick  the 
Great  denounced  the  practice,  and  made  those  who  were 
obliged  to  pass  through  his  dominion  pay  toll  like  "  cattle 
exported  for  foreign  shambles."  It  has  been  said  that 
the  Landgrave  Frederick  II.  kept  up  a  splendid  court 
on  the  proceeds  of  the  pay,  amounting  to  £3,000,000, 
which  the  British  Government  gave  him  for  the  services 
of  the  twenty-tAVO  thousand  Hessians  who  fought  against 
the  Americans  in  the  war  of  independence. 

On  the  4th  of  April  the  fleet  set  sail  from  Spithead, 
consisting  of  sixteen  vessels  containing  the  Brunswick 
troops,  four  vessels  containing  the  Hesse-Hanau  troops, 
six  vessels  containing  the  English  corps  of  artillery  under 
command  of  Major-General  William  Phillips,  and  two 
transports  with  provisions  and  ammunition.  The  whole 
were  convoyed  by  the  frigate  Juno,  Captain  Dalrymple, 
and  the  frigate  Blonde,  thirty-six  guns,  Captain  Brunei,  on 
board  of  which  was  Lieutenant-General  John  Burgoyne. 
At  Plymouth  the  fleet  was  joined  by  six  additional  ships 
with  the  Twenty-first  British  regiment  on  board. 

When  these  troops  reached  Quebec,  the  Brunswick 
regiments  of  dragoons  and  Prince  Frederick  were  left 
there  as  the  garrison  of  that  city,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Frederick  Baum.  All  the  rest  were 
sent  up  to  Three  Rivers  to  join  the  reinforcements  which 
had  previously  arrived. 


86  THE   CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

The  British  army  thus  assembled  at  Three  Rivers, 
and  which  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence  in  pursuit  of  the 
retreating  Americans,  consisted  of  Maclean's  Royal  High 
land  Emigrants,  the  Canadian  volunteers,  a  body  of 
Indians,  the  English  grenadiers  and  light  infantry,  the 
following  regiments  of  foot,  consisting  of  ten  companies 
of  fifty-six  men  each: — The  Ninth  (Ligonier's),  Twen 
tieth  (Parker's),  Twenty-first,  Twenty-fourth  (Taylor's), 
Twenty-ninth  (Evelyn's),  Thirty-first,  Thirty-fourth  (Lord 
Cavendish's) ,  Forty-seventh  (Carleton's) — which  had  been 
at  Bunker's  Hill, — Fifty-third  (Elphinstone's),and  Sixty- 
second  (Jones'),  the  British  corps  of  artillery,  consist 
ing  of  six  companies  under  Major-General  Phillips,  the 
Brunswick  battalion  of  grenadiers  and  regiment  of  infant 
ry  Riedesel,  and  Colonel  Von  Gall's  Hanau  regiment, — 
amounting  in  all  to  about  ten  thousand  men,  amply  pro 
vided  with  everything  that  could  contribute  to  the  com 
fort  and  efficiency  of  a  soldier. 

They  proceeded  slowly  and  cautiously  up  Lake  St. 
Peter  in  the  vessels  which  composed  the  fleet,  those  only 
whose  transports  had  not  come  up  marching  along  the 
north  shore,  under  command  of  General  Fraser.  Extra 
ordinary  precautions  were  taken  to  guard  against  sur 
prise.  The  guns  of  the  vessels  were  loaded,  strong 
guards  were  kept  upon  the  decks,  patrol-boats  were  con 
stantly  out  about  the  ships,  and  squads  of  Indians  and 
Canadians  also  patrolled  the  shores  in  their  canoes  day 
and  night. 

On  the  evening  of  the  14th  of  June,  the  fleet  arrived 
off  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel  river,  a  few  hours  after  Sulli 
van's  army  had  evacuated  the  works  at  that  place.  The 
retreat  of  the  Americans  had  been  so  long  delayed  that 
the  guard  at  Berthier,  opposite  Sorel,  was  obliged  to 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  87 

abandon  the  boats,  and  escape  by  the  way  of  Montreal 
and  Chamblee. 

The  British  grenadiers  and  light  infantry  and  part  of 
General  Nesbitt's  brigade  occupied  the  abandoned  works 
at  Sorel  that  night.  The  next  morning  additional  troops, 
including  part  of  the  artillery,  were  landed  from  the  fleet, 
and  the  whole  column  placed  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant-General  Burgoyne,  with  instructions  to  cautiously 
pursue  the  retreating  American  army,  but  to  venture 
nothing  until  he  was  supported  by  the  column  which 
was  to  march  by  the  way  of  Longueil  and  La  Prairie. 

The  fleet  then  proceeded  up  the  river  to  Longueil, 
and  from  it  General  Carleton  landed  with  the  remainder 
of  the  troops  on  the  evening  of  the  16th.  They  were 
furnished  with  four  days'  rations,  and  began  that  same 
night  the  fatiguing  march  for  St.  Johns,  by  the  way 
of  La  Prairie,  in  the  rain,  and  under  the  burden  of  their 
wet  blankets,  commanded  by  Major-General  Phillips. 
They  were  followed  by  the  two  regiments  of  Brunswick 
troops  and  one  of  Hanau,  under  command  of  Major- 
General  Riedesel.  The  horses  had  not  been  landed,  and 
officers  arid  men  alike  were  obliged  to  march  on  foot. 
General  Eraser's*  corps  also  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  brought  up  the  rear.  These  columns  were  joined  in 
their  march  by  many  Canadians,  volunteers,  and  Indians. 
Learning  that  Montreal  had  been  evacuated,  General 
Carleton  sent  the  Twenty-ninth  regiment  there  to  do 
garrison  duty,  whither  he  also  repaired  himself.  He  re 
mained  there  until  the  26th,  when  he  established  his 
headquarters  at  Chamblee. 

*  Neither  Nesbitt,  Fraser,  nor  Phillips  survived  the  war.  Nesbitt  died  at 
Quebec  shortly  after  the  retreat  of  the  British  army  from  Crown  Point ;  Fraser 
was  killed  at  Saratoga,  October  7th,  1777,  and  Phillips  died  at  Petersburg,  Vir 
ginia,  May  13th,  1781. 


88 


THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 


On  Sunday  morning,  the  16th,  the  fortifications  and 
saw-mills  at  Chamblee,  with  the  row-galleys  and  four 
schooners,  were  burned  by  the  American  troops,  who  then 
continued  their  retreat  toward  St.  Johns,  thirteen  miles 
above,  burning  all  bridges  behind  them  as  they  went. 

The  bateaux,  with  the  baggage,  ordnance,  and  stores, 
were  in  the  rear,  under  a  guard  of  five  hundred  men, 
commanded  by  Major  Fuller.  They  had  barely  quitted 
one  end  of  Chamblee  when  the  advance-guard  of  the 
column  under  Burgoyne  entered  it  at  the  other.  Con 
siderable  skirmishing  was  kept  up  between  these  par 
ties  in  the  woods  and  underbrush  above  Chamblee,  until 
large  reinforcements  were  sent  back  by  General  Sulli 
van,  which  brought  off  the  rear  and  the  bateaux  in  safety. 

The  sick  had  been  sent  on  ahead  from  St.  Johns  to 
Isle  aux  Noix.  But  two  men  could  be  spared  from 
those  fit  for  duty  to  row  each  boatload  of  them,  and 
these  pulled  wearily  all  night  long,  with  their  helpless 
burdens,  against  the  current  of  the  river,  for  the  distance 
of  twelve  miles.  They  reached  Isle  aux  Noix  just  be 
fore  day.  The  sick  were  landed  on  the  island  with  great 
haste,  and  the  boats  sent  back  to  bring  up  the  army,  for 
they  were  as  scantily  supplied  with  boats  as  they  were 
with  everything  else.  What  more  distressing  situation 
can  be  imagined  ? 

The  greater  number  of  the  sick  were  utterly  helpless, 
some  died  on  the  way,  others  were  dying, — all  crying 
out  for  relief  which  could  not  be  furnished  them.  "  It 
broke  my  heart,"  wrote  Dr.  Meyrick,  a  surgeon  who  was 
with  them  on  the  Isle  aux  Noix,  "and  I  wept  till  I 
had  no  more  power  to  weep.  I  wiped  my  eyes,  pitched 
my  tents,  and  others  did  the  same,  so  that  in  about  an 
hour  the  sick  were  all  out  of  sight." 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  89 

On  Monday,  the  17th,  the  rear  of  Sullivan's  army  got 
safely  up  to  St.  Johns,  incumbered  with  their  baggage, 
stores,  and  provisions.  They  found  General  Arnold  there 
with  his  little  party  of  three  hundred  men  of  Reed's 
and  Patterson's  regiments,  comprising  the  garrison  of 
Montreal.  They  had  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence  from 
Montreal  to  Longueil  on  the  previous  Saturday  night, 
bringing  everything  with  them,  and  had  marched  twenty- 
six  miles  on  Sunday,  by  the  way  of  La  Prairie  to  St. 
Johns,  burning  the  bridge  over  Little  river  behind 
them.  Arnold  had  been  at  Chamblee  and  St.  Johns 
for  several  days  looking  after  the  goods  he  had  seized 
from  the  merchants  at  Montreal.  From  there  he  wrote 
to  General  Sullivan  on  the  13th,  "The  junction  of  the 
Canadas  with  the  Colonies  is  now  at  an  end.  Let  us  quit 
them,  and  secure  our  own  country  before  it  is  too  late," 
and  returned  to  Montreal  on  the  14th  to  await  events. 
When  Sullivan  learned  that  Arnold  was  retreating  from 
Montreal,  and  in  danger  of  being  intercepted  by  the 
enemy,  he  sent  a  party  under  General  Wayne  to  cover 
his  retreat ;  but  this  party  had  marched  but  a  short  dis 
tance  when  it  was  discovered  that  Arnold  was  safe.  At 
St.  Johns  the  retreating  army  found  also  Poor's  and 
Greaton's  regiments  forming  the  garrison  of  that  place. 

Another  council  of  war  was  held  at  St.  Johns,  at 
which  it  was  determined  not  to  attempt  to  hold  the 
place,  but  to  continue  the  retreat  to  Crown  Point.  The 
barracks  and  fortifications  were  stripped  of  everything 
and  burned,  and  the  troops  began  immediately  to  embark 
in  their  boats  for  Isle  aux  Noix,  which  place  the  last 
of  them  reached  on  the  night  of  the  18th.  Major  John 
Bigelow,  with  an  artillery  squad  of  forty  men,  was  posted 
at  St.  Johns  to  protect  the  retreat.  Arnold  was  the  last 


90  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

man  to  leave  the  shore.  The  advance  of  the  enemy  was 
then  in  sight.  He  stripped  his  horse  of  his  accoutre 
ments,  shot  him  through  the  head,  and  pushed  the  last 
boat  off  with  his  own  hands. 

The  head  of  the  British  column  which  marched  under 
Burgoyne  up  the  Sorel  river  occupied  St.  Johns  on  the 
night  of  the  18th,  and  the  advance  of  the  .other  column, 
which  marched  from  Longueil,  under  Major-General 
Phillips,  reached  St.  Johns  on  the  morning  of  the  19th 
of  June. 

At  this  point  the  pursuit  ended.  The  Americans,  with 
their  terrible  burden,  destitute  of  almost  everything  but 
courage  and  patriotism,  had  made  good  their  retreat,  had 
brought  everything  off  with  them,  and  left  desolation  in 
their  path  behind  them.  But  a  few  hours  in  time  sepa 
rated  the  pursuers  from  the  pursued.  There  was  a  road 
up  the  bank  of  the  Sorel  river  as  far  as,  and  beyond, 
Isle  aux  Noix.  The  island  lay  within  half-musket  shot 
of  the  shore.  The  British  numbers  were  three-fold 
greater  than  the  American,  to  say  nothing  of  their  vast 
superiority  of  condition  and  equipment.  Yet  beyond 
this  point  the  Americans  were  allowed  to  choose  their 
own  time,  and  conduct  their  further  retreat  in  their  own 
way,  as  the  circumstances  of  their  distressed  condition 
required.  Viewed  in  the  light  of  all  its  surroundings, 
their  escape  was  no  less  than  a  substantial  victory. 

To  this  inevitable  result  of  the  expedition  into  Canada, 
after  the  manner  in  which  it  had  been  conducted,  Con 
gress  seems  to  have  been  easily  reconciled.  "  The  loss 
of  Canada,"  wrote  Hancock  to  Washington,  "is  undoubt 
edly  on  some  accounts  to  be  viewed  in  the  light  of  a 
misfortune.  The  continent  has  been  put  to  a  great  ex 
pense  in  endeavoring  to  get  possession  of  it.  That  our 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  91 

army  should  make  so  prudent  a  retreat  as  to  be  able  to 
save  their  baggage,  cannon,  ammunition,  and  sick  from 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  is  a  circumstance 
that  will  afford  a  partial  consolation,  and  reflect  honor 
upon  the  officers  who  conducted  it.  Considering  the 
superior  force  of  the  British  troops,  and  a  retreat  una 
voidable,  everything  has  been  done  which  in  such  a  situ 
ation  could  be  expected.  In  short,  sir,  I  am  extremely 
glad  that  our  army  is  likely  to  get  safe  out  of  Canada." 

In  this  view  of  the  situation  Washington  acquiesced. 
In  replying  to  this  letter  of  the  President  of  Congress, 
he  wrote,  "  Canada,  it  is  certain,  would  have  been  an  im 
portant  acquisition,  and  well  worth  the  expenses  incurred 
in  the  pursuit  of  it.  But  as  we  could  not  reduce  it  to 
our  possession,  the  retreat  of  our  army  with  so  little  loss, 
under  such  a  variety  of  distresses,  must  be  esteemed  a 
most  fortunate  event." 

A  committee  of  Congress,  subsequently  appointed  to 
inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  disasters  in  Canada,  attrib 
uted  them  to  the  short  enlistment  of  the  troops,  the 
want  of  hard  money,  and  the  prevalence  of  small-pox. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

At  Isle  aux  Noix — Distressing  Condition  of  the  American  Troops — Evacua 
tion  of  Canada— Eemoval  of  the  Sick  to  Crown  Point — Massacre  of  Penn- 
sylvanians  by  the  Enemy's  Indians — Their  Burial  and  Epitaph — The  Retreat 
from  Isle  aux  Noix  to  Isle  la  Motte  and  Crown  Point — Encampment  of  the 
Troops  at  that  place. 

ISLE  AUX  Noix  (a  narrow  island  in  the  Sorel  river,  a 
mile  long  by  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide)  then  contained 
about  eight  thousand  officers  and  men,  the  remnants  of 
"as  fine  an  army,"  wrote  General  Gates,  "as  ever  marched 
into  Canada."  They  were  all  crowded  together,  half  of 
them  prostrated  with  small-pox  and  other  diseases,  and 
many  of  them,  especially  the  Eastern  troops,  infested 
with  vermin. 

The  island  derived  its  name  from  the  hazel  bushes  on 
its  northern  end,  and  was  covered  with  clover.  It  was 
low  and  flat,  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  swampy,  malari 
ous  country,  and  had  been  a  military  position  of  more  or 
less  importance  in  all  the  wars  of  that  region.  The  only 
buildings  then  upon  it  were  a  house  and  barn  occupied 
by  a  French  family.  The  four  Pennsylvania  regiments 
were  encamped  on  the  east  side  of  the  island.  The  days 
were  intensely  hot  and  the  dews  very  heavy.  The  air 
was  infected  by  the  sick,  the  dead,  and  the  dying.  This, 
together  with  the  malarious  condition  of  the  country  and 
the  fact  that  the  men  had  had  nothing  to  eat  for  so  long 
but  salt  pork  and  unbolted  flour,  and  nothing  to  slake 

(92) 


THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  93 

their  burning  thirst  with  but  the  poisonous  water  of  the 
lake,  threatened  the  speedy  destruction  of  the  whole 
army.  As  a  consequence  of  their  wretched  condition,  a 
camp  disorder  broke  out  among  them.  From  twenty  to 
sixty  in  a  regiment  were  taken  down  with  it  in  a  day ; 
they  dropped  down  while  on  parade.  "  I  am  almost 
distracted,"  wrote  Sullivan  to  Washington,  "with  the 
thoughts  of  losing  so  many  men  as  daily  go  off  by  sick 
ness."  All  of  the  field  officers  and  many  of  the  men  of 
the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  were  prostrated  with 
it.  "  To  give  you  a  particular  account  of  the  miserable 
state  of  our  troops  here,"  wrote  Sullivan  to  Congress, 
"and  the  numbers  which  daily  keep  dropping  into  their 
beds  and  graves,  would  rather  seem  like  the  effect  of 
imagination  than  the  history  of  facts." 

A  large  pit  was  dug  as  a  burial-place  for  each  camp. 
To  the  edge  of  this  pit  the  dead  were  carried  in  blankets 
as  soon  as  the  breath  was  out  of  their  bodies.  Without 
ceremony  they  were  rolled  into  it  in  the  rags  in  which 
they  died,  and  at  night  barely  enough  earth  was  thrown 
over  them  to  hide  them  from  sight.  This  charnel-house 
was  thus  ready  to  receive  another  layer  of  those  who 
should  perish  in  wretchedness  on  the  following  day. 
They  found  not  even  decent  sepulture,  when  their  mis 
eries  were  ended,  nor  any  memorial  of  the  sacrifice  they 
made  for  the  cause  of  American  liberty. 

Sullivan,  a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  who  retreated 
very  reluctantly,  had  hoped  against  hope  to  be  able  to 
strengthen  the  old  French  intrenchments,  and  make  a 
stand  on  the  Isle  aux  Noix.  It  was  their  last  foothold 
in  Canada.  The  line  of  New  York  was  only  ten  miles 
away.  The  same  heroic  spirit  which  had  sustained  these 
unfortunate  troops  in  so  many  trials  now  led  them  to 


94  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

think  of  holding  this  place  long  after  every  possibility 
of  their  being  able  to  do  so  had  vanished,  in  the  brave 
determination  that  nothing  on  their  part  should  remain 
undone  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  their  countrymen  re 
specting  Canada.  But  they  had  conquered  every  other 
obstacle,  only  to  be  destroyed  by  disease.  The  unhealth- 
iness  of  the  locality,  and  the  awful  mortality  among  the 
troops,  at  length  compelled  Sullivan,  with  the  advice  of 
all  his  officers,  to  abandon  Isle  aux  Noix  and  continue 
the  retreat.  "One  fortnight  longer  in  this  place,"  he 
wrote  in  despair  to  Washington,  "  will  not  leave  us  well 
men  enough  to  carry  off  the  sick." 

At  noon,  on  Thursday  (the  20th),  they  began  to  move 
the  sick  to  Crown  Point,  in  the  shallow  boats  (then  the 
worse  for  wear)  which  had  been  rudely  constructed  in 
the  spring  to  carry  the  army  over  the  lakes  into  Canada. 
Sullivan  sent  a  letter  with  the  sick  to  General  Schuyler, 
which  contained  the  following  passage  : — "  I  send  on  the 
sick,  the  looks  and  numbers  of  which  will  present  you 
with  the  most  dismal  spectacle  ever  furnished  from  one 
army  in  this  quarter  of  the  globe."  The  boats  were 
leaky  and  without  awnings.  The  sick  were  laid  in  their 
wet  bottoms,  without  beds  or  blankets  or  covering  of  any 
description.  The  hot  mid-summer  sun  beat  down  upon 
them  without  moderation.  Many  of  the  New  England 
regiments  were  so  much  reduced  by  sickness  that  it  was 
necessary  to  draft  men  from  the  Pennsylvania  regiments 
to  row  them.  This  weary,  suffering  journey  from  Isle 
aux  Noix  to  Crown  Point  occupied  five  long  davs  and 
nights,  with  nothing  but  salt  pork  (often  rancid)  and  un 
baked  flour  upon  which  to  sustain  their  miserable  exist 
ence.  The  army  had  received  but  three  or  four  days 
fresh  provisions  since  it  had  entered  Canada. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  95 

The  Americans  remained  for  eight  days  on  Isle  aux 
Noix,  without  any  attempt  having  been  made  on  the 
part  of  the  British  to  dislodge  them.  They  had  sent 
scouting  parties  up  the  west  bank  of  the  river  to  watch 
the  movements  of  the  Americans ;  and,  if  possible,  to 
run  off  their  boats.  Their  Indians  continually  lurked  in 
ambush  on  the  flanks  of  the  Americans,  making  it  dan 
gerous  to  venture  beyond  the  lines,  but  their  main  body 
kept  close  within  its  lines  at  St.  Johns.  On  the  24th, 
one  of  these  scouting  parties,  composed  chiefly  of  Indians, 
surprised  a  party  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
which  had  crossed  from  the  camp  "to  fish  and  divert 
themselves."  They  were  drinking  spruce  beer,  unarmed, 
at  a  Canadian  cabin,  when  they  were  surprised  by  the 
savages.  Captain  Adams,  Lieutenant  Culbertson,  and 
two  privates  were  killed  and  scalped.  Captain  McClean, 
Lieutenants  McFerren,  McAlister,  and  Hoge,  and  two 
privates,  were  made  prisoners.  A  party  from  camp 
came  to  their  rescue  at  the  first  alarm,  and  enabled 
Captain  Rippey  and  Ensign  Lusk,  the  other  mem 
bers  of  the  party,  to  make  their  escape.  Colonel 
Wayne,  with  a  detachment,  was  sent  in  pursuit  of 
the  savages,  but  was  not  able  to  overtake  them,  and 
returned  to  camp  without  having  discovered  any  signs 
of  the  enemy. 

The  bodies  of  the  massacred  Pennsylvanians  were  re 
moved  to  Isle  aux  Noix  and  decently  buried.  A  rude 
stone  was  erected  over  their  remains  by  their  comrades, 
bearing  the  following  inscription: — "Beneath  this  humble 
sod  lie  Captain  Adams,  Lieutenant  Culbertson,  and  two 
privates  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment.  Not  hire 
lings,  but  Patriots.  They  fell  not  in  battle,  but  unarmed. 
They  were  basely  murdered  and  inhumanly  scalped  by 


96  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

the  barbarous  emissaries  of  the  once  just — but  now  aban 
doned — kingdom  of  Britain." 

EPITAPH. 

"Sons  of  America!  rest  in  quiet  here. 
Britannia,  blush  !     Burgoyne,  let  fall  a  tear. 
And  tremble,  Europe's  son,  with  savage  ease, 
Death  and  Kevenge  await  you  with  disgrace." 

On  the  26th,  the  retreat  of  the  American  army  from 
Isle  aux  Noix  began.  It  was  conducted  by  slow  stages. 
The  next  resting-place  was  Isle  la  Motte,  twenty-five 
miles  to  the  south.  This  island  was  selected  because  it 
was  much  larger,  higher,  and  healthier  than  Isle  aux 
Noix. 

There  were  not  boats  enough  to  transport  the  whole 
army.  Nearly  all  they  possessed  had  gone  forward  with 
the  sick  to  Crown  Point.  Colonel  Wynkoop,  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  had  been  ordered  by  Schuyler  to  send  all  the 
boats  he  could  procure  down  the  lake  to  the  assistance 
of  the  retreating  army.  Schuyler  also  sent  an  express 
to  Fort  George,  where  there  were  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  boats,  with  orders  to  send  them  to  the  relief  of 
the  army,  but  there  were  so  few  men  to  take  them  down 
the  lake,  that  but  a  small  number  were  sent.  None  of 
these  had  as  yet  arrived,  and  a  large  detachment  was 
therefore  obliged  to  march  twenty-six  miles  along  the  west 
side  of  the  lake  by  an  Indian  path,  knee-deep  through  a 
swamp,  to  Point  au  Per,  at  which  place  there  was  then 
a  brick  house,  commonly  known  as  the  White  House. 
From  this  point  they  were  taken  off  by  boats,  and  carried 
over  to  Isle  la  Motte,  which  lay  nearly  opposite. 

From  Isle  la  Motte,  the  retreat  was  continued  to  Crown 
Point,  at  which  place  the  rear  of  the  army  arrived  on  the 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  97 

night  of  the  2d  of  July.  Here  they  pitched  what  tents 
they  had,  built  sheds  with  the  lumber  they  could  pro 
cure,  and  huts,  for  those  who  could  not  otherwise  be  shel 
tered,  out  of  hemlock  bushes.  In  these  rude  structures, 
the  sick  and  well,  without  discrimination,  bestowed  them 
selves  as  best  they  could.  "  I  can  truly  say,"  writes 
Colonel  Trumbull,  the  Adjutant-General,  who  made  an 
inspection  of  them  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  return ; 
"  I  can  truly  say  that  I  did  not  look  into  tent  or  hut  in 
which  I  did  not  find  a  dead  or  dying  man."  They  num 
bered  about  five  thousand  two  hundred  who  were  fit  for 
duty,  and  two  thousand  eight  hundred  sick.  To  convey 
some  idea  of  the  sufferings  this  army  had  undergone,  it 
may  be  mentioned  that  the  loss  from  death,  desertion, 
and  other  causes,  from  the  time  they  entered  Canada 
until  they  left  it,  amounted  to  nearly  five  thousand  men — 
about  forty  per  cent,  of  their  whole  number.  They  still 
buried  from  fifteen  to  twenty  of  their  comrades  every 
day.  "  Our  misfortunes  in  Canada,"  wrote  John  Adams, 
from  Philadelphia,  "are  enough  to  melt  a  heart  of  stone. 
The  small-pox  is  ten  times  more  terrible  than  British, 
Canadians,  and  Indians  together.  There  has  been  want 
approaching  famine,  as  well  as  pestilence." 

Though  the  condition  of  these  troops  was  as  distress 
ing  in  all  respects  as  it  well  could  be,  the  strictest  meas 
ures  were  adopted  to  keep  the  men  clean.  Numerous 
orders,  having  that  special  object  in  view,  were  issued 
from  time  to  time.  The  following  was  made  by  Colonel 
Wayne  on  the  7th : — "  A  barber  for  each  company  is  also 
to  be  nominated,  for  the  purpose  of  shaving  the  soldiers 
and  dressing  their  hair,  who  shall  be  allowed  four  pence 
per  man  per  week  out  of  his  wages.  The  colonel  is  de 
termined  to  punish  every  man  who  comes  on  parade  with 


98  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA. 

a  long  beard,  slovenly  dressed,  or  dirty,  in  the  severest 
manner,  especially  for  neglect  of  his  arms.  They,  at  all 
events,  must  at  all  times  be  clean  and  fit  for  service." 

To  the  speedy  remedying  of  the  distressing  state  of 
the  army  the  attention  of  all  was  soon  turned.  "You 
will  see  from  the  enclosed  resolves,  which  I  do  myself 
the  pleasure  of  forwarding,  in  obedience  to  the  commands 
of  Congress,"  John  Hancock  had  written  to  Washington 
on  the  18th  of  June,  "that  they  have  bent  their  whole 
attention  to  our  affairs  in  Canada,  and  have  adopted  such 
measures  as,  in  their  opinion,  are  calculated  to  place  them 
on  a  better  and  more  reputable  footing  for  the  future." 
This  resolution  to  put  things  in  Canada  upon  a  more  rep 
utable  footing  came  too  late ;  but  the  same  energies  were 
now  bent  to  repair  the  fatal  errors  that  had  been  com 
mitted  there,  in  order  that  the  army  might  be  put  in  a 
condition  to  defend  the  northern  frontier  from  the  inva 
sion  which  was  then  threatened  by  a  powerful  British 
army. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

General  Gates  Appointed  to  the  Command  of  the  Army — He  arrives  at  Albany 
and  learns  of  the  Retreat — A  question  of  Command  between  Schuyler  and 
Gates — They  set  out  together  for  Crown  Point — Reconnoitering  Parties  are 
sent  down  the  Lake — Capture  of  Captain  Wilson  and  his  Men — Brigadier- 
General  Gordon  is  Killed  by  Lieutenant  Whitcomb — A  Council  of  War 
determines  to  abandon  Crown  Point  and  remove  the  Sick  to  Fort  George — 
Remonstrance  of  Field  Officers — Washington  and  his  Generals  disapprove 
of  the  action  of  the  Council — General  Sullivan  takes  offense  at  the  Appoint 
ment  of  Gates,  and  Resigns  his  Commission — A  General  Hospital  estab 
lished  at  Fort  George — Removal  of  the  Sick — Their  Neglect  and  Sufferings 
— Removal  of  the  Army  to  Ticonderoga. 

ON  the  same  day  that  Sullivan  with  his  retreating 
army  reached  St.  Johns,  Congress  appointed  Major-Gen 
eral  Horatio  Gates  to  the  command  of  the  forces  in 
Canada.  He  owed  his  selection  to  the  influence  of  the 
delegates  from  the  New  England  Colonies,  with  whom 
he  was  very  popular,  and  John  Adams  was  among  the 
first  to  notify  him  of  his  good  fortune.  "We  have  or 
dered  you  to  the  post  of  honor,  and  made  you  dictator 
in  Canada  for  six  months,"  he  wrote  to  him.  Gates  left 
NeAv  York  for  the  army  on  the  26th  of  June,  accompa 
nied  by  John  Trumbull,  his  adjutant-general;  Morgan 
Lewis  (afterwards  Governor  of  New  York),  his  quarter 
master-general,  and  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts.  Upon  their 
arrival  at  Albany,  Gates  first  heard  of  the  retreat  from 
Canada,  and  a  question  at  once  arose  between  General 
Schuyler  and  himself  as  to  which  of  them  was  entitled 
to  the  command.  Schuyler  contended  that  Gates  was 

(99) 


100  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

to  have  the  supreme  command  of  the  army  only  while  it 
was  in  Canada,  and  as  it  had  now  retreated  into  the 
province  of  New  York,  he,  as  commander  of  the  northern 
department,  was  Gates'  superior  officer.  To  this  Gates 
would  not  accede.  They  agreed,  however,  that  this  dif 
ference  between  them  should  not  in  the  least  be  allowed 
to  embarrass  the  service,  but  should  be  referred  to  Con 
gress  for  settlement.  In  the  meantime  they  agreed  to 
act  in  concert,  and  forthwith  set  out  together  on  horse 
back  for  the  army,  accompanied  by  General  Arnold  (who 
had  left  Isle  aux  Noix  for  Albany  on  the  19th)  and 
Colonel  Trumbull.  On  the  8th  of  July,  Congress  settled 
the  disputed  question  of  command  in  favor  of  General 
Schuyler,  to  which  decision  General  Gates  gracefully  sub 
mitted.  They  rode  by  Fort  Edward  and  Fort  Anne,  and 
down  Wood  creek,  over  the  road  which  the  province  of 
New  York  had  built  through  this  wilderness  in  1709,  to 
Skenesborough  (now  White  Hall),  which  was  at  this  time 
a  thriving  village  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  in 
habitants.  From  there  they  went  by  water  to  Ticonde- 
roga.  Upon  reaching  there  they  sent  Colonel  Trumbull 
over  to  Mount  Independence,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
lake,  to  examine  the  ground  with  a  view  to  its  fortifi 
cation,  and  Schuyler,  Gates,  and  Arnold  proceeded  to 
Crown  Point,  where  they  joined  the  sad  and  suffering 
wreck  of  the  army  on  the  evening  of  Friday,  the  5th  of 
July.  They  at  once  began  the  work  of  reorganizing  it, 
to  protect  the  colonies  from  invasion  by  Sir  Guy  Carle- 
ton's  army  from  the  north. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hartley,  with  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  had  been 
sent  down  the  lake  by  General  Sullivan  as  far  as  Isle 
la  Motte  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy.  He  reported  that 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  101 

the  British  had  pushed  on  their  advance  as  far  as  Isle 
aux  Noix,  where  their  outpost  was  then  stationed,  but 
showed  no  signs  of  advancing  further. 

Later,  a  party  of  thirty  men,  under  Captain  James  A. 
Wilson  and  Lieutenant  John  Grier,  of  the  Sixth  Pennsyl 
vania  Regiment,  were  sent  down  the  lake  as  a  reconnoi- 
tering  party.  They  were  encouraged  by  the  supineness 
of  the  enemy  to  proceed  into  the  river  Sorel,  where  they 
fell  in  with  a  party  of  the  enemy's  light  infantry  and  a 
number  of  Indians  under  the  command  of  Captain  James 
H.  Craig,  of  the  Forty-seventh  Hegiment.  After  a  brisk 
engagement,  during  which  about  six  rounds  were  fired,  the 
Americans,  after  a  gallant  resistance  which  commanded 
the  admiration  of  the  enemy,  were  obliged  to  surrender. 
One  of  the  enemy's  Indians  was  killed,  and  one  of  the 
light  infantry  mortally  wounded.  The  Americans  lost  one 
man  killed  and  another  wounded,  who  afterwards  died. 

Lieutenant  Benjamim  Whitcomb,  of  Burrell's  Connect 
icut  Regiment,  was  also  sent  out  with  a  scout  of  four 
men  upon  a  hazardous  expedition  into  the  country  occu 
pied  by  the  enemy,  for  the  purpose  of  making  one  of 
their  number  prisoner,  and  obtaining  from  him  informa 
tion  of  their  designs  and  movements.  Whitcomb  and 
his  party  left  Crown  Point  on  the  14th  of  July,  and 
made  their  way  slowly  down  the  east  shore  of  the  lake 
to  the  head  of  Missisque  bay,  where  they  began  to  dis 
perse.  Whitcomb  with  one  companion  went  across  the 
country  for  about  twenty  miles  to  the  Sorel  river,  oppo 
site  St.  Johns.  From  here  they  niQved  slowly  down  the 
east  bank  of  the  Sorel  river  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Chamblee,  where  they  crossed  to  the  road  leading  from 
St.  Johns  to  La  Prairie.  At  this  point  his  companion 
left  him,  and  Whitcomb,  while  concealed  in  the  thicket 


102  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

by  the  side  of  the  road,  at  noon,  on  the  24th  of  July, 
shot  in  the  right  shoulder  and  mortally  wounded  Brig 
adier-General  Gordon,  who  was  riding  by  in  the  full  scar 
let  uniform  of  a  British  officer.  General  Gordon  had 
ridden  from  La  Prairie,  where  his  brigade  was  encamped, 
to  St.  Johns  on  a  visit  to  General  Fraser,  whose  head 
quarters  were  then  at  the  latter  place,  and  was  on  his 
return  home  when  he  was  shot.  He  died  of  his  wound 
on  the  30th  of  July,  and  was  buried  at  Montreal,  with 
military  honors,  on  the  3d  of  August.  He  was  one  of 
the  four  brigadiers  whom  Carleton  had  but  recently  ap 
pointed,  the  others  being  Nesbitt,  Fraser,  and  Powel, 
and  was  much  respected  as  a  brave  and  meritorious  offi 
cer.  The  manner  of  his  death  created  great  indignation 
in  the  British  army,  and  was  much  regretted  by  the 
Americans. 

Colonel  Trumbull  joined  the  army  at  Crown  Point  on 
the  6th  of  July,  and  recommended  Mount  Independence 
as  a  military  position  of  great  natural  strength.  A  rocky 
bluff,  thirty  to  fifty  feet  high,  surrounded  on  three  sides 
by  the  lake,  with  a  deep  morass  and  East  creek  behind 
it,  and  low  country  beyond.  It  was  well  calculated,  if 
fortified,  to  protect  the  eastern  colonies  from  invasion, 
and  was  easily  accessible  to  their  militia.  Colonel  Trum 
bull  also  recommended  the  erection  of  a  work  on  the  top 
of  Sugar-loaf  Hill,  afterwards  called  Mount  Defiance,  to 
the  south-west  of  Ticonderoga,  which,  from  its  great 
height — seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  lake- 
commanded  both  Mount  Independence  and  Ticonderoga. 
Neglect  of  this  recommendation  led  to  the  evacuation  of 
Ticonderoga  in  the  following  year. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  at  Crown  Point,  on  Sun 
day,  the  7th,  composed  of  Major-Generals  Schuyler  and 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  103 

Gates,  and  Brigadier-Generals  Sullivan,  Arnold,  and  de 
Woedtke,  by  which  it  was  resolved  that  Crown  Point 
was  not  tenable,  and  that  it  was  prudent  for  the  army  to 
retire  immediately  to  Ticonderoga.  It  was  also  resolved 
to  remove  the  sick  immediately  to  Fort  George. 

The  resolution  to  evacuate  Crown  Point  occasioned 
much  dissatisfaction  among  some  of  the  field  officers  of 
the  army.  A  remonstrance  against  it,  addressed  to  Gen 
eral  Schuyler,  was  drawn  up  on  the  8th,  and  signed  by 
Colonels  Stark,  Maxwell,  Porter,  Reed,  Bond,  Poor,  Bur- 
rell,  Greaton,  and  others.  Colonel  St.  Clair  and  Colonel 
De  Haas,  "men,"  wrote  General  Gates  to  Washington, 
"whose  long  service  and  distinguished  character  deserv 
edly  give  their  opinion  a  preference,"  agreed  with  the 
general  officers  that  it  was  expedient  to  evacuate  the 
place.  Washington,  who  was  very  uneasy  and  anxious 
about  the  northern  frontier,  and  who  was  not  familiar 
with  the  topography  of  the  lakes  or  the  condition  of  the 
fortifications,  was  inclined,  at  first,  to  coincide  with  the 
field  officers  against  the  action  of  the  council.  "When 
intelligence  was  first  received  here  that  Crown  Point  was 
abandoned,"  he  wrote  to  General  Schuyler,  "it  was  the 
cause  of  general  alarm,  and  filled  the  minds  of  most  who 
heard  it  with  no  small  degree  of  anxiety  and  chagrin." 
He  also  wrote  to  General  Gates  from  New  York  on  the 
19th:  "Nothing  but  a  belief  that  you  had  actually  re 
moved  the  army  from  the  Point  to  Ticonderoga,  and 
demolished  the  works  at  the  former,  and  the  fear  of  cre 
ating  dissensions  and  encouraging  a  spirit  of  remonstra 
ting  against  the  conduct  of  superior  officers  by  inferiors, 
have  prevented  me,  by  the  advice  of  the  general  officers 
here,  from  directing  the  post  at  Crown  Point  to  be  held 
till  Congress  should  decide  upon  the  propriety  of  its 


104  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

evacuation.  I  must,  however,  express  my  sorrow  at  the 
resolution  of  your  council,  and  wish  that  it  had  never 
happened,  as  everybody  who  speaks  of  it  also  does,  and 
that  the  measure  could  yet  be  changed  with  propriety." 
"Upon  the  whole,"  he  wrote  to  him  at  a  later  date,  "no 
event  of  which  I  have  been  informed  for  a  long  time 
produced  a  more  general  chagrin  and  consternation." 
The  wisdom  of  the  evacuation,  however,  was  conclusively 
established  by  the  events  which  followed. 

The  quick  sensibilities  of  General  Sullivan  were  deeply 
wounded  by  the  appointment  of  General  Gates,  who  had 
been  his  junior  in  rank,  to  supersede  him  in  the  com 
mand.  "I  readily  confess,"  he  wrote  to  General  Schuyler 
from  Crown  Point  on  the  6th,  "  that  I  ever  was  desirous 
of  some  officer  of  superior  rank  to  relieve  me  from  the 
disagreeable  command,  and  should  with  pleasure  have  re 
mained  in  the  army  and  served  under  him ;  but  Congress 
having  thought  proper  to  supersede  me  by  appointing 
General  Gates  (who  had  not,  by  the  rank  they  were 
pleased  formerly  to  confer  on  us,  the  same  pretensions 
as  myself),  I  can  construe  this  in  no  other  light  but  by 
supposing  Congress  was  apprehensive  that  I  was  not 
equal  to  the  trust  they  were  pleased  to  repose  in  me. 
If  this  be  the  case,  I  am  bound  in  justice  to  my  country 
to  relinquish  a  command  to  which  I  am  not  equal.  If 
this  was  not  the  foundation,  and  they  had  not  such  an 
opinion  of  me,  surely  my  honor  calls  upon  me  to  leave 
the  service  after  a  person  is  put  over  me  without  any 
impeachment  of  my  conduct."  He  accordingly  requested 
leave  of  absence,  which  was  reluctantly  granted,  pro 
ceeded  to  Philadelphia,  and  resigned  his  commission. 

Before  his  departure,  he  expressed  to  the  army, 
through  General  Schuyler,  his  satisfaction  at  the  man- 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  105 

ner  in  which  they  had  performed  all  their  duties,  under 
the  most  trying  circumstances,  and  in  return  was  pre 
sented  by  the  officers  with  an  address  expressive  of  the 
high  regard  in  which  they  held  him. 

Congress  was  unwilling  to  accept  the  resignation  of 
General  Sullivan,  as  the  manner  in  which  he  had  con 
ducted  the  retreat  out  of  Canada  was  highly  creditable 
to  him,  and  he  was  induced,  after  satisfactory  explana 
tions,  to  withdraw  it  and  remain  in  the  service. 

The  first  step  toward  the  improvement  of  the  con 
dition  of  the  army  was  the  removal  of  the  sick.  It  was 
determined  to  establish  a  general  hospital  at  Fort  George, 
and  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts  was  immediately  directed  to  fit 
up  the  sheds  on  the  lake  shore  at  that  place  with  cribs 
or  berths  for  their  reception,  and  to  gather  such  hem 
lock-tops  as  could  be  collected  along  the  lake  for  their 
bedding. 

On  the  10th  of  July  the  removal  of  the  sick  from 
Crown  Point  commenced.  The  pork  provided  for  them 
on  their  journey  was  so  rancid  that  it  had  to  be  thrown 
away.  They  had  nothing  to  eat  but  a  scant  supply  of 
flour,  wet  with  lake  water,  and  baked  on  flat  stones. 
The  gloomy  flotilla  encountered  head  winds  all  the  way, 
and  their  journey  of  fifty  miles  consumed  four  days  and 
nights.  By  the  12th,  accommodations  had  been  pro 
vided  at  Fort  George  for  about  three  hundred  and  fifty, 
and  lumber  enough  had  been  collected  there  to  shelter 
the  remainder  until  hospitals  could  be  erected.  One 
woman  was  drafted  from  each  company  of  the  Pennsyl 
vania  regiments  and  sent  with  them  as  nurses. 

On  the  shores  of  this  romantic  lake,  now  one  of  the 
most  popular  pleasure  resorts  in  America,  these  unfor 
tunate  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  (many  of  whose  bones 


106  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

still  lie  there  in  their  unrecognized  resting-places)  re 
mained  for  weeks  and  weeks,  in  the  most  distressed  and 
neglected  condition.  They  were  without  proper  diet, 
without  bedding,  many  of  them  being  obliged  to  lie  on 
bare  boards,  and  without  shelter  sufficient  to  screen  them 
from  the  weather.  Among  the  scourges  that  prostrated 
them  were  dysentery,  bilious  putrid  fevers,  and  confluent 
small-pox.  They  were  without  medicines  in  a  country 
where  none  were  to  be  procured,  with  less  than  a  dozen 
physicians  to  attend  from  fifteen  hundred  to  two  thou 
sand  men,  and  without  experienced  female  nurses.  It  is 
not  surprising,  therefore,  that  by  the  middle  of  August 
their  number  had  decreased  to  one  thousand  by  deaths 
and  discharges.  By  the  20th  of  October,  it  was  still 
further  reduced  to  four  hundred,  which  number  included 
the  wounded  sent  from  the  fleet.  Richard  Stockton  and 
George  Clymer,  the  committee  of  Congress  who  visited 
the  locality,  spoke  of  the  sick  in  their  report  as  fol 
lows  : — "Your  committee  can  not  omit  mentioning  under 
this  head,  the  complaints  which  they  have  received  from 
persons  of  all  ranks,  in  and  out  of  the  army,  respecting 
the  neglect  and  ill-treatment  of  the  sick.  It  is  shocking 
to  the  feelings  of  humanity,  as  well  as  ruinous  to  the 
public  service,  that  so  deadly  an  evil  has  been  so  long 
without  a  remedy." 

After  the  sick  had  been  removed  from  Crown  Point, 
there  remained  about  three  thousand  effective  men,  with 
which,  as  a  nucleus,  the  difficult  work  of  reorganization 
began.  On  the  8th  of  July,  Generals  Schuyler  and  Gates 
returned  to  Ticonderoga,  and  on  the  following  day  the 
First,  Second,  and  three  companies  of  the  Fourth  Penn 
sylvania  Hegiments  arrived  there.  They  were  without 
shoes  or  stockings,  and  almost  in  rags.  "The  whole  of 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  107 

them  appeared  in  miserable  plight  from  the  fatigue  and 
sickness  they  had  undergone,  but,  compared  with  the 
eastern  troops,  they  were  robust  and  healthy,"  wrote 
Captain  Persifor  Frazer,  who,  with  his  company,  and  the 
companies  of  Captains  Taylor,  North,  Moore,  and  Ver- 
non,  of  Wayne's  regiment,  had  left  New  York  City  on 
the  29th  of  June,  and  joined  the  three  companies  of  the 
regiment  which  had  served  in  Canada,  at  Ticonderoga,  on 
the  12th  of  July.  The  Sixth  Pennsylvania  had  been 
left  at  Crown  Point,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Hartley,  as  the  advance-guard  of  the  army,  and 
to  protect  the  oar-makers  who  had  arrived  there  (where 
timber  for  the  purpose  was  abundant)  to  make  oars  for 
the  fleet.  They  constantly  sent  small  parties  down  the 
lake  from  Crown  Point  to  reconnoitre  the  movements  of 
the  enemy. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Ticonderoga — The  Pennsylvania  Troops  occupy  and  repair  the  French  lines — 
Baron  de  Woedtke — Composition  of  the  Army  that  Ketreated  from  Canada 
— Colonel  Enoch  Poor — Division  of  the  Army  into  Brigades — Ship-carpen 
ters  are  sent  up  from  the  Atlantic  Seaboard — Other  Mechanics  begin  to 
arrive— Mount  Independence  is  cleared — Camp  Life  and  Duties — Sickness 
on  Mount  Independence — Colonel  John  Greaton — Want  of  Mail  facilities. 

TICONDEROGA  (a  corruption  of  the  Indian  Cheonderoga — 
"congregation  of  many  waters,"  or,  as  others  have  inter 
preted  it,  "place  of  rocks  dividing  the  water,"  or  "place 
where  two  rivers  meet")  had,  from  the  earliest  times, 
been  the  name  of  the  peninsula,  a  mile  long  by  two- 
thirds  of  a  mile  wide,  which  projects  into  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  is  washed  on  the  north  and  east  by  its  waters, 
and  on  the  south  by  the  outlet  of  Lake  George.  The 
name  was  confined  at  this  time  to  the  old  fort,  which 
stood  seventy  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  lake.  It 
was  constructed  by  the  French  in  1755,  and  called  by 
them  Carillon  (chime),  after  the  sound  of  the  water-fall 
above  it.  It  and  Crown  Point  were  dismantled  by  the 
French  when  they  evacuated  them  in  1759,  but  were 
immediately  rebuilt  by  the  English  at  a  cost  of  £2,- 
000,000.  They  were  both  soon  after  suffered  to  fall 
into  decay. 

Ticonderoga  was  not  a  strong  place  in  a  military  sense, 
though  it  seems  to  have  been  so  regarded  by  the  French, 
and  the  English  after  them.  It  commanded  the  water 

(108) 


THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.        109 

communication  with  Lake  George,  but  was  in  danger  of 
being  turned  to  the  north-west  from  Three-mile  Point  to 
that  lake,  and  was  at  the  mercy  of  Mount  Defiance  on 
the  south.  It  required,  moreover,  the  large  garrison  of 
ten  thousand  men  and  at  least  one  hundred  cannon  for 
its  defence. 

Lake  Champlain  at  this  point  is  confined  by  the  two 
promontories  of  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence 
within  the  compass  of  half  a  mile. 

Upon  their  arrival  at  Ticonderoga,  the  three  Pennsyl 
vania  regiments  encamped  temporarily  on  the  shore  of 
the  lake,  below  the  old  fort,  until  a  road  could  be  com 
pleted  up  to  the  old  French  lines,  which  they  had  been 
ordered  to  occupy  and  repair.  The  French  lines  were 
situated  three-quarters  of  a  mile  back  of  the  old  fort,  in 
a  north-westerly  direction.  They  had  been  hastily  con 
structed  by  the  French  troops  under  Montcalm  on  the 
7th  of  July,  1758,  after  their  outposts  had  been  driven 
in  by  Abercrombie,  and  consisted  of  heavy  logs  piled 
one  upon  another  to  the  height  of  eight  feet,  with  an 
abatis  in  their  front.  From  behind  them  three  thou 
sand  French  troops  repulsed,  with  frightful  slaughter, 
fifteen  thousand  British  on  the  day  after  they  were  con 
structed. 

Scouting  parties  of  twenty  men  each  were  sent  out 
from  the  camp  of  the  Pennsylvania  troops  by  the  lake 
side  every  morning  before  daybreak,  to  scour  the  high 
ground  back  of  the  French  lines  from  the  bridge  near 
the  saw-mill,  on  the  outlet  of  Lake  George,  across  the 
peninsula  to  the  shore  of  the  lake  opposite.  On  the 
16th  they  moved  their  camp  up  the  hill  near  the  French 
lines,  which  they  immediately  began  to  repair,  and  a 
week  later  permanently  took  their  positions  close  within 


110  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

them,  where  they  remained  for  four  months  until  the 
First  Regiment  marched  to  the  south,  and  the  Second 
and  Fourth  went  into  winter  quarters  as  the  permanent 
garrison  of  the  place. 

By  the  middle  of  July  the  health  of  Baron  de  Woedtke 
had  become  so  much  impaired  that  he  was  obliged  to  go 
to  the  hospital  at  Fort  George.  lie  lingered  there  until 
the  2Sth,  when  he  died,  and  was  buried  with  honors  due 
to  his  rank. 

Frederick  William,  Baron  de  Woedtke,  was  a  Prus 
sian  officer  of  rank  and  culture,  who  had  entered  the 
service  of  Frederick  II.  as  early  as  1750.  He  came  to 
America  in  the  fall  of  1775  very  highly  recommended, 
with  the  intention  of  taking  part  in  the  revolutionary 
struggle,  and  making  America  the  country  of  his  adop 
tion.  He  visited  Washington  at  Cambridge  and  was  ap 
pointed  a  brigadier-general  by  Congress  on  the  16th  of 
March,  1776,  with  directions  to  proceed  immediately  to 
Canada.  He  accompanied  the  Commissioners  of  Con 
gress  to  Montreal  and  joined  the  army  on  the  Sorel 
early  in  May. 

General  Arnold  had  been  left  in  command  at  Crown 
Point  by  Gates,  to  direct  the  embarkation  of  the  troops 
and  bring  up  the  rear  of  the  army,  with  which  he  arrived 
at  Ticonderoga  on  the  17th,  having  left  three  hundred 
new-made  graves  at  Crown  Point  behind  them.  All  the 
other  regiments  composing  the  army  encamped  tempo 
rarily  near  the  old  fort,  and  on  a  point  of  land  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  lake. 

The  army  which  retreated  from  Canada  was  com 
posed  of  John  P.  De  Haas',  Arthur  St.  Glair's,  Anthony 
Wayne's,  and  William  Irvine's  Pennsylvania;  William 
Wind's  and  William  Maxwell's  New  Jersey;  John 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  Ill 

Stark's,  James  Reed's,  Enoch  Poor's,*  and  Timothy 
Bedel's  New  Hampshire ;  John  Grreaton's,  William 
Bond's,  John  Patterson's,  and  Elisha  Porter's  Massa 
chusetts  ;  and  Charles  Burrell's  Connecticut  regiments — 
fifteen  regiments  in  all  of  regular  continental  troops. 
In  addition  to  these  regiments  of  infantry,  there  was  an 
independent  company  commanded  by  Colonel  Stanton,  a 
few  volunteers,  and  the  four  artillery  companies  of  Cap 
tains  Stevens,  Eustis,  Romans,  and  Wood. 

They  found  Colonel  Cornelius  Wynkoop's  New  York 
regiment  of  Continental  troops  at  Ticonderoga,  forming 
the  garrison  of  that  place. 

Colonel  Goose  Van  Schaick's  and  Colonel  Cornelius  Van 
Dyke's  New  York  regiments  of  Continental  troops  were 
stationed  at  Fort  George,  which  post  was  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Peter  Gansvoort,  of  Van  Schaick's 
regiment,  who  heroically  defended  Fort  Stanwix  when 
it  was  besieged  by  St.  Leger  in  the  following  year. 

The  army  was  divided  into  four  brigades.  The  First, 
commanded  by  General  Arnold,  consisted  of  Bond's, 
Greaton's,  Burrell's,  and  Porter's  regiments.  The  Sec 
ond,  commanded  by  Colonel  Reed,  consisted  of  Reed's, 
Poor's,  Patterson's,  and  Bedel's  regiments.  The  Third, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Stark,  consisted  of  Stark's,  Max 
well's,  Wind's,  and  Wynkoop's  regiments.  The  Fourth, 

*  ENOCH  POOR  was  born  at  Andover,  Massachusetts,  in  1736.  He  removed  to 
Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  and  was  appointed  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  New  Hamp 
shire  troops  after  the  battle  of  Lexington.  He  served  under  Washington  at  the 
siege  of  Boston.  His  regiment  was  afterwards  ordered  to  New  York,  and  from 
there  to  Canada  in  the  brigade  of  General  Thompson.  He  was  appointed  briga 
dier-general  by  Congress  February  21st,  1777.  His  brigade,  composed  of  New 
York  and  New  Hampshire  troops,  began  the  attack  on  the  enemy's  left  at  the 
battle  of  Saratoga,  October  7th,  1777.  He  was  afterwards  with  Washington  at 
Valley  Forge,  and  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Momnouth.  He  was 
killed  in  a  duel  with  a  French  officer  September  8th,  1780,  near  Hackensack, 
New  Jersey,  and  is  buried  at  that  place. 


112  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

commanded  by  Colonel  St.  Glair,  consisted  of  St.  Glair's, 
De  Haas',  Wayne's,  and  Irvine's  regiments.  The  first 
three  were  ordered  to  encamp  on  Mount  Independence, 
the  fourth,  or  Pennsylvania  brigade,  in  the  old  French 
lines — the  post  most  exposed  to  the  enemy,  the  key  to 
the  whole  position,  and  upon  the  maintenance  of  which 
the  safety  of  the  whole  army  depended. 

They  were  in  the  midst  of  a  wide-extending  wilder 
ness,  which  abounded  in  bears,  wolves,  and  rattlesnakes. 
It  produced  nothing  but  lumber,  for  the  manufacture  of 
which  there  were  no  less  than  three  saw-mills  in  the  im 
mediate  vicinity :  one  built  by  the  French  near  the  falls, 
on  the  outlet  from  Lake  George,  where  the  village  of 
Ticonderoga  now  stands,  another  at  Crown  Point,  which 
was  repaired  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hartley,  and  another 
at  Cheshires,  on  Wood  creek,  near  Skenesborough,  which 
had  been  built  by  General  Schuyler  in  anticipation  of 
the  retreat,  and  run  day  and  night  to  furnish  boards  for 
the  fleet,  and  to  provide  shelter  for  the  troops. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  this  wild  and  solitary 
place  became  the  scene  of  great  life  and  activity.  The 
neighboring  hills  soon  began  to  resound  with  the  echoes 
of  fife  and  drum,  the  roar  of  the  morning  and  evening 
gun,  and  the  blows  of  hundreds  of  axes. 

On  the  last  day  of  May,  General  Schuyler  had  sent 
thirty  carpenters  from  Fort  George  to  Skenesborough, 
by  the  way  of  Ticonderoga,  as  a  pioneer  force,  to  build 
gondolas,  but  they  found  neither  tools  nor  materials  there 
to  build  them  with.  After  the  retreat  of  the  army,  ship- 
carpenters  were  procured  at  prodigious  wages  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard,  and  forwarded  to  Skenesborough  as 
speedily  as  possible,  to  construct  a  fleet  to  control  the 
waters  of  Lake  Champlain.  A  company  of  fifty  was  sent 


CONQUEST    OF   CANADA.  113 

from  Philadelphia.  They  had  not  time  to  put  their  tools 
on  board  the  vessel  at  New  York  which  was  to  carry 
them  to  Albany,  before  the  British  ships  Phoenix  and 
Rose  ran  up  above  the  city  and  cut  off  all  water  com 
munication  with  the  towns  on  the  Hudson.  They  were 
obliged,  therefore,  to  pursue  the  more  tedious  and  ex 
pensive  journey  by  land.  At  the  request  of  Congress, 
Governor  Nicholas  Cooke,  of  Rhode  Island,  sent  another 
company  of  fifty  ship-carpenters  from  that  State.  An 
other  company  of  fifty  was  sent  from  Massachusetts,  and, 
at  the  request  of  General  Schuyler,  Governor  Trumbull 
sent  up  still  another  company  of  fifty  from  Connecticut. 
Two  tons  of  oakum  were  also  sent  up,  at  General  Schuy- 
ler's  request. 

A  forest  was  to  be  cleared  preparatory  to  the  fortifi 
cation  of  the  ground,  but  they  were  without  the  means 
to  do  it  with  until  General  Schuyler  sent  them  twelve 
hundred  felling-axes,  and  Governor  Trumbull,  a  patriot 
who  did  much  to  relieve  all  their  wants,  sent  them  eight 
hundred  more,  with  handles,  by  the  way  of  Bennington, 
on  the  29th  of  July.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before 
there  was  not  a  grind-stone  fit  to  grind  them  on,  and  the 
axes  were  thereby  rendered  almost  useless.  House-car 
penters  and  armorers  also  soon  began  to  arrive,  but  their 
work  was  much  delayed  by  the  want  of  tools  and  nails, 
which  last  were  obtained  with  very  great  difficulty. 

By  the  21st  of  July  a  sufficient  number  of  felling-axes 
had  been  received  to  enable  the  First,  Second,  and  Third 
Brigades  to  begin  the  work  of  clearing  Mount  Independ 
ence  of  the  primeval  forest  with  which  it  was  covered, 
and  in  ten  days  the  ground  was  sufficiently  cleared  to 
enable  them  to  lay  out  their  camp.  They  constructed 
log  huts  to  cover  themselves  with,  and  proceeded  to 


114 


THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 


throw  up  earthworks,  a  twenty-gun  battery  on  the  lower 
side,  and  above  it  a  semi-circular  redoubt. 

The  sufferings  of  the  army  at  Ticonderoga  were,  how 
ever,  slow  to  decrease.  The  routine  of  military  duty  was 
very  severe,  inspirited  only  by  the  martial  sound  of  fife 
and  drum,  and  a  few  brass  and  reed  instruments  which 
General  Thompson's  brigade  had  brought  with  them 
from  Boston.  Music  of  the  latter  kind  was  so  scarce 
in  the  colonies,  however,  that  the  brass  and  reed  instru 
ments  were  safely  packed  up  by  order  of  the  President 
of  Congress,  and  sent  to  Philadelphia.  The  patriotism 
which  had  led  the  troops  into  the  service  continued  to 
sustain  them  through  all  its  hardships  and  privations, 
and  they  continued  to  struggle  on  in  the  rough  path  of 
duty.  Alarm  posts  were  established  immediately  after 
their  arrival,  and  the  different  companies  were  out  at 
them  every  morning  before  daybreak.  During  the  day 
every  man  who  could  be  spared  from  his  post  was 
hard  at  work  on  the  intrenchments.  Even  the  elements 
seemed  to  conspire  against  them.  Scarcely  a  day  passed 
without  the  rain  descending  in  torrents.  The  evening 
after  the  Pennsylvania  regiments  removed  their  camp 
up  the  hill,  it  rained  so  hard  that  officers  and  men  lay 
all  night  in  nearly  two  inches  of  water. 

This  not  only  seriously  retarded  the  work  on  the  in 
trenchments,  but  the  effects  of  the  climate  and  exposure 
upon  the  already  enfeebled  constitutions  of  the  men, 
reduced  many  of  them  with  chills  and  fever  and  dys 
entery,  and  there  were  no  medicines  on  hand  to  relieve 
them.  The  surgeon's  mate  of  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  was  obliged  to  send  a  hundred  men  of  the 
regiment  to  Fort  George,  because  no  medicines  could  be 
obtained  at  Ticonderoga  for  them.  It  was  necessary, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  115 

almost  daily,  to  issue  half  a  gill  of  rum  to  every  non 
commissioned  officer  and  soldier  to  protect  them  against 
the  wet  weather. 

The  new  earth  turned  up  on  Mount  Independence  in 
the  broiling  sun,  with  the  malaria  arising  from  the  stag 
nant  lake  and  the  neighboring  swamps,  soon  produced 
fevers  there  of  a  very  fatal  character.  Heaps  of  brush 
were  burned  on  the  new  ground  every  night  and  morn 
ing  to  purify  the  air,  but  without  success  in  removing 
the  cause  of  disease,  which  lingered  until  the  frosts  came 
in  the  fall.  "It  would  make  a  heart  of  stone  melt  to 
hear  the  moans  and  see  the  distresses  of  the  sick  and 
dying,"  wrote  Dr.  Wigglesworth  to  the  New  Hampshire 
Committee.  The  only  real  relief  they  experienced  was 
from  the  discovery  of  springs  of  excellent  water  at  the 
base  of  the  rocks. 

Colonel  Bond  died  there  on  the  31st  of  August,  and 
was  buried  with  military  honors  in  front  of  his  regiment ; 
Colonel  Burrell  was  sent  home  in  a  very  precarious  state 
of  health;  Colonel  Greaton*  was  sent  to  Fort  George 
dangerously  ill,  but  recovered,  and  General  Reed  was 
also  sent  to  the  hospital  so  ill  that  he  did  not  regain  his 
health  during  the  campaign,  and  ultimately  lost  his  sight. 

The  chills  and  fever  was  a  malady  common  to  the 
shores  of  Lake  Champlain  from  Skenesborough  to  St. 
Johns.  It  attacked  the  settlers  as  well  as  the  troops. 
The  British  suffered  even  more  severely  than  the  Amer 
icans,  as  the  regions  about  St.  Johns  and  Isle  aux  Noix, 

#  JOHN  GREATON  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  March  10th,  1741,  in 
which  place  he  kept  an  inn.  He  was  an  officer  of  the  local  militia,  and  became 
colonel  of  a  Massachusetts  regiment  July  12th,  1775.  His  regiment  was  sub 
sequently  incorporated  into  the  Continental  Army  and  was  present  at  the  siege 
of  Boston.  He  was  ordered  to  New  York  after  the  British  evacuation  of  Boston, 
and  from  there  to  Canada  with  General  Thompson.  He  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  by  Congress  January  7th,  1783,  and  died  at  Koxbury  in  February,  1784. 


116  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

where  they  were  encamped,  were  more  unhealthy  than 
those  portions  of  the  lake  occupied  by  the  American 
troops.  As  many  as  nineteen  of  the  enemy  were  buried 
in  one  day. 

Early  in  August  an  abundance  of  fresh  beef  was  fur 
nished  to  the  men,  twenty  head  of  cattle  being  sent  them 
every  week,  and  plenty  of  fresh  bread ;  and  thereafter 
order  began  to  make  its  appearance,  and  the  spirits  of 
the  men  materially  to  improve.  Rum,  wine,  chocolate, 
loaf-sugar,  fresh  vegetables,  venison,  cheese,  and  butter 
were  articles  of  luxury  within  the  reach  of  those  who 
were  able  to  purchase  them.  They  could  be  obtained 
from  the  sutlers  who  flocked  to  the  camp,  but  only  at 
such  exorbitant  prices  that  it  was  found  necessary  to 
regulate  their  sale  by  general  order.  A  market  was  es 
tablished  for  that  purpose  at  the  foot  of  the  glacis  of  the 
old  fort,  which  was  ordered  to  be  held  there  every  day 
from  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  sunset. 

Not  the  least  of  the  privations  which  the  Southern 
troops  at  Ticonderoga  suffered  was  the  want  of  any  news 
from  home.  The  Massachusetts  Assembly  had  provided 
a  weekly  post-rider,  who  carried  letters  from  Watertown 
to  the  soldiers  at  Ticonderoga  free  of  charge,  and  Gov 
ernor  Trumbull  had  also  provided  one  from  Lebanon, 
Connecticut,  to  Ticonderoga,  to  carry  the  mail  "as  fre 
quently  as  that  stage  could  be  performed;"  but  the 
Southern  troops  were  without  any  mail  facilities  what 
ever.  A  very  decided  remonstrance  was  addressed  to 
Congress  upon  the  subject,  signed  by  General  Gates  and 
the  field  officers  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey 
Regiments,  in  which  they  complained  that  their  public 
and  private  letters  were  opened  and  detained,  and  pray 
ing  that  a  regular  post  might  be  established  between 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  117 

Philadelphia  and  Ticonderoga.  Congress,  a  day  or  two 
before  this  memorial  was  received,  had  established  a 
regular  system  for  carrying  the  mails  throughout  the 
colonies.  A  post-rider  was  to  be  employed  for  every 
twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  on  all  public  post-roads,  who 
was  to  ride  his  stage  three  times  a  week — setting  out 
immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  the  mail  bag,  and  riding 
with  it  night  and  day  until  he  delivered  it  to  the  next 
rider.  The  memorial  of  the  field  officers  at  Ticonderoga 
was  referred  by  Congress  to  the  Committee  for  Regula 
ting  the  Post  Office,  and  tardy  relief  was  extended  to 
them  under  the  general  postal  system. 


CHAPTER  X. 

News  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence — A  Copy  is  sent  to  Burgoyne  with 
a  Demand  for  the  Perpetrators  of  the  Barbarities  after  the  Cedars — Carleton 
returns  an  Offensive  Answer — Sectional  Animosities  between  the  Troops — 
Ordnance  and  Ordnance  Stores — Their  removal  from  Ticonderoga  by  Colonel 
Knox — Court-Martial  of  Colonel  Moses  Hazen — Disrespectful  Conduct  of 
General  Arnold — His  Arrest  Requested,  but  Refused. 

TOWARD  the  close  of  July,  the  army  at  Ticonderoga 
received  news  of  the  declaration  of  independence,  and 
on  the  28th  it  was  read  at  Ticonderoga  by  Colonel 
Arthur  St.  Clair.  It  was  received  by  the  troops  with 
great  enthusiasm.  A  copy  of  it  had  been  sent,  by  order 
of  Congress,  for  General  Burgoyne  (who,  by  some  strange 
error,  was  supposed  to  be  in  command  of  the  British 
forces),  together  with  the  resolutions  of  Congress  re 
monstrating  with  the  British  for  the  barbarous  treatment 
of  the  Colonial  prisoners  of  war  after  the  Cedars,  and 
demanding  that  those  who  had  been  guilty  of  those  bar 
barities  should  be  delivered  up  for  punishment.  By 
these  resolutions  Congress  agreed  to  ratify  the  sponsion 
entered  into  by  Arnold  with  Forster,  and  to  return  an 
equal  number  of  British  prisoners,  in  rank  and  condition, 
but  only  upon  condition  that  the  British  commander  in 
Canada  would  first  deliver  into  their  hands  the  authors, 
abettors,  and  perpetrators  of  those  brutal  massacres,  that 
they  might  suffer  the  punishment  which  their  crimes  de 
served. 

(118) 


THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.        119 

These  dispatches  from  Congress  to  Burgoyne  were 
intrusted  for  transmission  to  Major  John  Bigelow  with 
a  boat's  crew  of  the  corps  of  artillery.  They  arrived 
with  them  at  the  British  lines  under  a  flag  of  truce  on 
the  same  day  that  St.  Glair  was  reading  the  Declaration 
to  the  troops  at  Ticonderoga.  Bigelow  was  received 
with  civility  by  Captain  Craig  of  the  Forty-seventh  Regi 
ment  (Carleton's  own  regiment),  who  informed  him  that 
Burgoyne  was  not  the  commanding  officer  in  Canada, 
and  he  did  not  know  whether  he  could  receive  a  flag  of 
truce  or  not,  but  would  forward  the  dispatches  to  Bur 
goyne,  whose  headquarters  were  at  Chamblee,  and  would 
be  obliged  to  detain  him  until  he  received  an  answer. 
Bigelow  was  confined  in  Captain  Craig's  tent  on  the  Isle 
aux  Noix  for  ten  days,  waiting  for  an  answer  to  the  dis 
patches,  which  had  been  sent,  he  was  informed,  to  Que 
bec,  whither  General  Carle  ton  had  gone  on  the  20th  in  a 
canoe.  At  the  expiration  of  the  ten  days,  Bigelow  was 
furnished  with  Carleton's  answer,  and  was  escorted  at 
sunset  beyond  the  British  lines. 

Sir  Guy  Carleton  returned  by  way  of  answer  a  public 
address,  in  the  shape  of  a  general  order,  severely  criti 
cising  the  course  of  the  colonies  in  declaring  their  inde 
pendence,  and  attributing  all  their  troubles  with  the 
mother  country,  in  the  most  opprobrious  language,  to 
the  misguidance  of  their  public  men.  This  order  was 
sealed  up  in  an  envelope  without  note  or  comment,  and 
addressed  to  "  George  Washington,  Esquire,"  but,  being 
intended  for  general  circulation  among  the  American 
troops,  an  open  copy  of  it  was  given  to  Major  Bigelow 
and  each  of  the  boat's  crew.  It  contained  also  the  fol 
lowing  intemperate  paragraph: — "His  Excellency  Gen 
eral  Carleton  orders  the  commanding  officers  of  corps 


120  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

will  take  special  care  that  every  one  under  their  com 
mand  be  informed  that  letters  or  messages  from  rebels, 
traitors  in  arms  against  their  king,  rioters,  disturbers  of 
the  public  peace,  plunderers,  robbers,  assassins,  or  mur 
derers  are  on  no  occasion  to  be  admitted.  That  should 
emissaries  from  such  lawless  men  again  presume  to  ap 
proach  the  army,  whether  under  the  name  of  flag-of- 
truce  men,  or  embassadors,  except  when  they  come  to 
implore  the  king's  mercy,  their  persons  shall  be  immedi 
ately  seized,  and  committed  to  close  confinement,  in  order 
to  be  proceeded  against  as  the  law  directs,  their  papers 
and  letters,  for  whomsoever,  even  for  the  commander-in- 
chief,  are  to  be  delivered  to  the  provost-marshal,  that, 
unread  and  unopened,  they  may  be  burned  by  the  hands 
of  the  common  hangman."  Well  might  General  Schuy- 
ler  write  to  General  Washington : — "  General  Carleton 
has  put  it  out  of  our  power  to  have  any  intercourse  with 
him  on  the  subject-matter  contained  in  the  resolves,  or, 
indeed,  on  any  other."  Washington  disposed  of  the  order 
with  dignity  and  brevity.  "I  shall  not  trouble  Con 
gress,"  he  wrote  to  John  Hancock,  "with  my  strictures 
upon  this  indecent,  illiberal,  and  scurrilous  performance 
so  highly  unbecoming  the  character  of  a  soldier  and  a 
gentleman." 

Though  in  the  form  of  a  general  order  to  his  own 
troops,  this  document  seems  to  have  been  intended  only 
as  a  menace  to  the  Americans,  for  shortly  afterwards 
Carleton  issued  another  order  to  his  troops,  in  which  he 
admonished  them  not  to  return  evil  for  evil.  "  The 
Englishman,  always  brave,"  he  wrote,  "will  not  forget 
that  he  is  accustomed  to  act  magnanimously  and  philan- 
thropically.  It  behooves  the  troops  of  the  king  to  spare 
the  blood  of  his  subjects  :  it  behooves  the  king  himself; 


CONQUEST   OF   CANADA.  121 

and  it  is  the  duty  of  all  his  faithful  subjects  to  obtain  for 
the  inhabitants  of  this  country  that  noble  liberty  with 
which  they  were  once  blessed." 

Of  the  sixteen  regiments  which  then  composed  the 
army,  the  four  from  Pennsylvania  comprised  more  than 
half  the  whole  effective  force.  Out  of  thirty-one  hun 
dred  men  at  Ticonderoga  fit  for  duty,  they  contributed 
sixteen  hundred.  This  was  due  to  the  superior  material 
of  which  these  regiments  were  composed.  The  Pennsyl- 
vanians  were  in  all  respects  better  soldiers  and  better 
men,  as  the  trying  ordeal  through  which  they  had  all 
passed  abundantly  proved,  and  as  the  general  officers 
(many  of  whom  were  from  the  Eastern  States)  also  fre 
quently  bore  witness.  They  were  described  by  Colonel 
Trumbull  as  "the  elite  of  the  army."  The  Eastern  regi 
ments  included  within  their  ranks  negroes  and  Indians, 
as  well  as  men  who  were  both  too  young  and  too  old  for 
military  duty. 

The  Pennsylvanians,  at  their  own  request,  had  been 
united  in  one  brigade.  "It  will  tend  to  the  furtherance 
of  the  service  much  if  the  Pennsylvanians  should  be 
brigaded  together,"  wrote  one  of  the  field  officers  to 
Gates,  "and  I  am  certain,  from  what  I  have  observed, 
that  we  shall  be  happier,  and  act  better,  if  the  Eastern 
and  Southern  troops  are  in  distant  brigades."  All  troops 
south  of  the  Delaware  were  then  known  as  Southern 
troops.  They  were  divided  by  the  lake,  and  there  was 
little  or  no  intercourse  between  them.  Indeed,  the  Penn 
sylvanians  did  not  attempt  to  disguise  their  contempt  for 
their  Eastern  comrades.  At  no  time  in  the  course  of  the 
war  was  this  feeling  of  sectional  animosity  stronger  than 
it  then  was  at  Ticonderoga.  Charles  Cushing,  of  Massa 
chusetts,  refers  to  it  when,  in  writing  of  the  battle  of 


122  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

Three  Rivers  to  his  brother,  from  Crown  Point,  he 
says: — "It  gives  me  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that  none 
of  the  'dainn'd  Yankees'  were  there,  as  the  Southern 
troops  are  pleased  to  term  us." 

"There  is  another  evil  of  a  very  serious  complexion, 
which  has  manifested  itself  in  our  camp,"  wrote  Dr. 
Thacher,  who  was  the  surgeon  of  Whitcomb's  Massa 
chusetts  regiment.  "Since  the  troops  from  the  Southern 
States  have  been  incorporated  and  associated  in  military 
duty  with  those  from  New  England,  a  strong  prejudice 
has  assumed  its  unhappy  influence  and  drawn  a  line  of 
distinction  between  them.  Many  of  the  officers  from  the 
South  are  gentlemen  of  education,  and  unaccustomed  to 
that  equality  which  prevails  in  New  England." 

A  New  England  brigadier-general,  writing  of  the  sec 
tional  animosity  between  the  troops,  says  : — "  It  has 
already  risen  to  such  a  height  that  the  Pennsylvania 
and  New  England  troops  would  as  soon  fight  each  other 
as  the  enemy.  Officers  of  all  ranks  are  indiscriminately 
treated  in  the  most  contemptible  manner,  and  whole  col 
onies  traduced  and  vilified  as  cheats,  knaves,  cowards, 
poltroons,  hypocrites,  and  every  term  of  reproach,  for 
no  other  reason  but  because  they  are  situated  east  of 
New  York." 

This  sectional  feeling  broke  out  into  a  scene  of  vio 
lence  during  the  following  winter  at  Ticonderoga,  between 
Wayne's  Pennsylvania  regiment  and  Whitcomb's  Massa 
chusetts.  Whitcomb  had  permitted  one  of  his  sons,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  his  regiment,  to  set  up  a  shoemaker's 
bench  in  his  father's  quarters,  and  he  detailed  another 
son  to  act  as  his  servant.  This  act  of  degradation  so 
incensed  the  Pennsylvanians  that  an  assault  was  made 
upon  the  colonel's  quarters  on  Christmas  day.  The  shoe- 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  123 

maker's  bench  was  thrown  out,  and  Colonel  Whitcomb 
assaulted.  This  was  followed  by  further  scenes  of  vio 
lence,  during  which  thirty  or  forty  rounds  were  fired  by 
Wayne's  regiment  at  Whitcomb's  men,  driving  them  from 
their  tents  and  barracks  and  wounding  several  of  them. 
The  good-natured  Colonel  Whitcomb  entirely  overlooked 
the  affair,  and  none  of  the  parties  were  punished. 

This  sectional  animosity  occasioned  Washington  no 
little  anxiety  when  his  attention  was  called  to  it  by 
General  Schuyler.  "I  must  entreat  your  exertions  to 
do  away  the  unhappy,  pernicious  distinctions  and  jeal 
ousies  between  the  troops  of  different  governments,"  he 
wrote  from  New  York  on  the  17th  of  July.  "Enjoin 
this  upon  the  officers,  and  let  them  inculcate  and  press 
home  to  the  soldiers  the  necessity  of  order  and  harmony 
among  those  who  are  embarked  in  one  common  cause, 
and  mutually  contending  for  all  that  freemen  hold  dear. 
I  am  persuaded  if  the  officers  will  but  exert  themselves, 
that  these  animosities  and  disorders  will  in  a  great  meas 
ure  subside." 

Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point,  and  the  other  fortifications 
along  this  line  of  communication,  were  well  supplied  by 
the  British  with  ordnance  and  ordnance  stores.  Though 
the  garrison  at  Ticonderoga  consisted  of  only  thirty 
effective  men  at  the  time  it  was  taken  by  Ethan  Allen 
in  May,  1775,  and  that  of  Crown  Point  of  only  a  ser 
geant  and  twelve  men,  large  quantities  of  ordnance  and 
ordnance  stores  fell  into  Allen's  hands.  These  soon  at 
tracted  the  attention  of  Washington,  who  stood  greatly 
in  need  of  them  to  carry  on  the  siege  of  Boston.  He 
accordingly  sent  Colonel  Henry  Knox  in  November, 
1775,  to  Ticonderoga,  to  procure  a  supply  for  him.  This 
officer  succeeded  with  much  difficulty  in  getting  them 


124  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

over  the  lake  to  Fort  George.  To  provide  for  their  fur 
ther  transportation  he  had  forty-two  exceedingly  strong 
sleds  constructed,  and  procured  eighty  yoke  of  oxen  to 
drag  them.  This  long  ordnance  train  wound  its  slow 
way  down  the  Hudson.  The  snow  was  three  feet  deep 
when  it  started,  but  it  was  soon  delayed  by  a  thaw  which 
weakened  the  ice  and  spoiled  the  sledding.  By  the  7th 
of  January,  however,  the  frost  returned,  and  the  first 
division  crossed  the  river  on  the  ice  at  Albany,  assisted 
by  the  citizens  of  that  city,  and  proceeded  on  its  way 
over  the  hills  to  the  Connecticut  river.  "It  appeared 
to  me  almost  a  miracle,"  Colonel  Knox  noted  in  his 
diary,  "that  people  with  heavy  loads  should  be  able  to 
get  up  and  down  such  hills  as  are  here,"  from  the  tops 
of  which  "we  might  almost  have  seen  all  the  kingdoms 
of  the  earth." 

From  the  Connecticut  river  they  moved  on  to  Boston, 
where  the  guns  were  placed  in  position  on  Dorchester 
Heights,  and  compelled  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the 
British. 

This  "stripping  Ticonderoga  so  entirely  of  its  heavy 
cannon,"  wrote  Charles  Lee  to  Washington,  on  the  29th  of 
February,  when  he  expected  to  take  command  of  that  de 
partment,  "is  a  most  unfortunate  circumstance,  and  the 
transportation  of  them  from  this  place  is  a  business  of 
monstrous  difficulties,  expense,  and  labor."  Yet,  notwith 
standing  this  heavy  drain,  the  army  which  now  occupied 
Ticonderoga  had  one  hundred  and  twenty  cannon  for  its 
defense  besides  those  which  had  been  taken  from  the 
fortress  to  arm  the  fleet.  They  included  1  thirty-two,  1 
twenty-four,  9  eighteen,  20  twelve,  41  nine.  26  six,  21 
four,  and  1  three  pounders.  They  had  only  forty-three 
garrison  carriages  on  which  to  mount  these  guns,  and 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  125 

many  of  these  were  unavailable  because  the  guns  would 
not  fit.  The  only  field-carriages  they  had  were  the  seven 
which  had  been  saved  in  the  retreat.  To  remedy  this 
serious  difficulty,  wheelwrights  began  to  arrive  from  the 
South  by  the  1st  of  August,  but,  like  the  other  artificers 
which  had  preceded  them,  their  work  was  greatly  re 
tarded  by  the  want  of  tools  and  materials.  In  addition 
to  the  embarrassments,  occasioned  by  the  want  of  gun- 
carriages,  the  ordnance  was  rendered  almost  useless  by 
the  want  of  sponges,  rammers,  worms,  and  other  attirail. 
There  were  but  very  few  of  these  in  the  garrison,  and 
the  army  had  lost  the  limited  supply  with  which  it  was 
provided  in  Canada.  The  ordnance  stores  contained 
forty-eight  hundred  and  twenty-two  round  and  three 
hundred  and  twenty-four  case  shot,  by  actual  count,  and 
about  two  thousand  cartridges,  three-fourths  of  which 
were  unfilled.  There  were  but  few  musket-balls  and 
buckshot,  very  little  lead  and  cartridge  paper,  and  gun 
ners  were  very  scarce.  To  complete  their  armament, 
Gates  called  upon  Congress  for  6  six  and  6  twelve 
pounders,  4  eight-inch  howitzers,  and  6  Coehorn  mortars, 
all  of  brass,  none  of  which  Congress  was  able  to  supply, 
but  all  which  they  ordered  to  be  cast  as  soon  as  possible. 
He  also  called  for  fifteen  tons  of  powder,  ten  tons  of 
lead,  and  a  supply  of  flints  and  cartridge  paper.  Con 
gress  at  once  ordered  fifteen  tons  of  powder,  twenty 
thousand  flints,  ten  tons  of  lead,  and  one  thousand  reams 
of  cartridge  paper  to  be  sent  to  him;  but  their  orders 
were  given  with  far  greater  liberality  than  their  resources 
justified,  though  two  powder  mills  near  Philadelphia  were 
then  delivering  twenty-five  hundred  pounds  per  week, 
and  there  were  four  others  in  the  province  of  Pennsyl 
vania  in  active  operation. 


126  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

It  was  the  6th  of  September  before  the  army  received 
the  cartridge  paper,  and  the  last  day  of  October  before 
even  six  tons  of  powder  and  a  quantity  of  lead  reached 
Ticonderoga. 

In  July,  a  general  court-martial,  of  which  Colonel 
Poor  was  president,  was  convened  for  the  purpose  of 
trying  Colonel  Moses  Hazen  upon  charges  preferred  by 
General  Arnold,  growing  out  of  injury  to  the  goods  which 
Arnold  had  seized  from  the  merchants  of  Montreal. 
Arnold  charged  that  the  injury  resulted  from  Colonel 
Hazen's  disobedience  of  his  orders.  Colonel  Hazen  was 
honorably  acquitted  of  all  responsibility  by  the  court. 
At  this  finding  Arnold  was  very  indignant.  He  had 
offered  Major  Scott,  under  whose  charge  the  goods  had 
been  transported  from  Montreal  to  Chamblee,  as  a  wit 
ness.  The  court  being  satisfied  that  Major  Scott  was 
interested,  rejected  his  testimony,  whereupon  Arnold,  in 
a  very  contemptuous,  disorderly,  and  menacing  manner, 
filed  a  protest  with  the  court,  which  he  accompanied  with 
abusive  and  profane  language.  The  court  refused  to 
allow  the  protest  to  go  upon  its  records,  and,  through 
Colonel  Poor,  the  president,  wrote  to  Arnold,  remonstra 
ting  against  his  conduct,  and  concluding  with  the  follow 
ing  words  : — "Nothing  but  an  open  acknowledgment  of 
your  error  will  be  received  as  satisfactory."  This  ac 
knowledgment  Arnold  positively  declined  to  make.  After 
stating  that  his  protest  was  not  designed  as  they  had 
construed  it,  he  wrote  in  reply  as  follows  : — "You  may 
depend,  as  soon  as  this  disagreeable  service  is  at  an  end 
(which  God  grant  may  soon  be  the  case),  I  will  by  no 
means  withhold  from  any  gentleman  of  the  court  the 
satisfaction  his  nice  honor  may  require.  Your  demand 
I  shall  not  comply  with."  The  court  thereupon  re- 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  127 

quested  Colonel  Trumbull,  the  Deputy  Adjutant-Gen 
eral,  to  put  General  Arnold  in  arrest.  The  only  answer 
received  to  this  request  was  the  following  order : — "  The 
general  court-martial  of  which  Colonel  Poor  was  pres 
ident  is  dissolved."  General  Arnold  appealed  from  the 
decision  of  the  court-martial  to  Congress,  and  the  court 
also  submitted  their  statement  to  that  body. 

There  can  be  but  one  explanation  of  the  disrespectful 
manner  in  which  the  request  of  the  court  was  treated  by 
General  Gates,  and  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  following 
paragraph  from  the  letter  which  he  had  addressed  to 
Congress  when  he  transmitted  the  papers  to  them: — "I 
was  obliged  to  act  dictatorially,  and  dissolve  the  court- 
martial  the  instant  they  demanded  General  Arnold  to  be 
put  under  arrest.  The  United  States  must  not  be  de 
prived  of  that  excellent  officer's  services  at  this  im 
portant  moment." 

The  laurels  won  by  Arnold  at  Quebec  were  still  green, 
and  his  services  as  commander  of  the  fleet,  which  was 
then  ready  to  sail,  were  indispensable.  The  exigency  of 
the  service  required  that  many  things  should  pass  un 
noticed  for  the  general  good  of  the  cause,  otherwise 
Arnold's  conduct  then,  as  ever,  strongly  tinctured  with 
arrogance,  would  not  have  gone  without  the  rebuke  it 
deserved. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Terror  Created  by  the  News  of  the  Retreat — Measures  for  raising  Reinforce 
ments — Reports  of  Small-pox  interfere  with  Enlistments — Additional  Boun 
ties  Offered — The  Militia  Rendezvous  at  Number  Four— New  Road  from 
Mount  Independence  to  Rutland — Sufferings  of  the  Militia  in  the  Wilder 
ness — Reinforcements  Retarded  by  Inoculation — The  Sick  required  to  Dis 
close,  under  oath,  how  they  took  the  Disease — Alarm  at  the  Re-introduction 
of  Small-pox  by  the  Militia — Disappearance  of  Small-pox  from  the  Army — 
Arrival  of  Reinforcements  at  Ticonderoga — Formation  of  a  New  Brigade — 
General  James  Brickett — Washington  orders  three  of  the  fullest  Regiments 
to  be  sent  from  Boston — Their  arrival  at  Ticonderoga — A  Company  of 
Mohican  Indians — Construction  of  the  Jersey  Redoubt — Completion  of  the 
Intrenchments  about  the  French  Lines — Delays  in  the  Works  on  Mount  In 
dependence — Colonels  Reed  and  St.  Clair  appointed  Brigadier-Generals — 
General  James  Reed — Conflicting  Claims  of  Majors  Wood  and  Morris  to 
the  Lieutenant-Colonelcy  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment — A  Rest 
from  Unremitting  Labors — Court-Martial  of  Deserters  and  other  Offenders 
— Cleanly  appearance  of  the  Pennsylvania  Troops. 

THE  news  that  the  army  was  retreating  from  Canada 
filled  the  pioneers  upon  the  outlying  settlements  of  north 
ern  New  York  and  New  Hampshire  grants  with  great 
consternation.  They  pictured  to  their  minds  the  horrors 
that  would  follow  when  their  homes  were  exposed  to 
bands  of  hostile  savages,  and  delayed  not  to  learn  the 
worst,  but  hastily  abandoned  their  settlements  for  places 
of  greater  security — carrying  terror  with  them  into  the 
more  thickly  settled  country  to  the  south. 

Measures  were  at  once  taken  by  the  authorities  of 
New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut  for 
raising  reinforcements.  Recruiting  was  actively  begun 
throughout  these  provinces,  but  coupled  with  the  news 

(128) 


THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE   CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.        129 

of  the  retreat  of  the  army,  and  the  threatening  dangers 
of  invasion  which  accompanied  it,  came,  as  a  damper 
upon  the  patriotic  zeal  which  prompted  the  colonists  to 
take  up  arms  for  the  defense  of  their  borders,  horrible 
stories  of  the  loathsome  pestilence  which  the  army  was 
bringing  with  it.  It  more  than  doubled,  to  their  minds, 
the  dangers  with  which  they  were  threatened.  The  dread 
of  small-pox  was  greater  than  the  dread  of  the  enemy. 
In  New  Hampshire  as  high  as  fifty  dollars  was  offered 
for  substitutes.  In  Massachusetts  the  bounty  offered  to 
recruits  for  the  army  in  Canada  was  £7,  whilst  that 
offered  to  recruits  for  Washington's  army  at  New  York 
was  only  £3.  In  addition  to  that,  the  regiments  des 
tined  for  Canada  were  offered  one  penny  a  mile  as  mile 
age,  and  one  day's  additional  pay  for  every  twenty  miles 
traveled  by  them,  in  order  to  expedite  their  march.  In 
Connecticut  it  was  found  necessary  to  offer  an  additional 
bounty  of  £3  over  that  given  to  troops  intended  for  ser 
vice  in  Boston  and  New  York,  to  induce  men  to  enlist 
in  the  Northern  army.  "The  small-pox,"  wrote  Gov 
ernor  Trumbull  to  Congress,  "is  a  more  terrible  enemy 
than  the  British  troops,  and  strikes  a  greater  dread  into 
our  men  who  have  never  had  it."  Terrible  though  the 
ravages  of  this  disease  in  the  army  had  been,  yet  the 
reports  of  it  acquired  additional  shades  of  horror  as 
they  were  transmitted  from  place  to  place,  and  so  seri 
ously  did  these  exaggerated  reports  interfere  with  enlist 
ments,  that  the  Connecticut  Council  of  Safety  found  it 
necessary  to  send  Dr.  John  Ely — a  physician  skilled  in 
the  treatment  of  small-pox — to  Ticonderoga,  to  inquire 
into  and  report  the  true  sanitary  condition  of  the  army. 
His  report  of  the  rigid  measures  which  had  been  adopted 
to  rid  the  army  of  this  pestilence  had  the  effect  of 


130  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

re-assuring  the  public  mind  to  some  extent,  and  in  a 
measure  allayed  the  fears  of  those  who  were  disposed 
to  enlist. 

But  a  few  weeks  elapsed  after  the  news  of  the  retreat 
reached  the  eastern  provinces  before  their  militia  were 
marching  to  reinforce  the  army.  The  first  company 
arrived  at  Skenesborough  from  the  adjacent  country  on 
the  24th  of  July.  The  Connecticut  militia  marched  in 
the  latter  part  of  July  by  the  way  of  Bennington  to 
Skenesborough,  over  the  road  which  Major  Skene  had 
built  to  the  lower  settlements  for  use  during  the  winter 
months  when  the  navigation  of  the  lake  was  closed. 
Those  from  New  Hampshire  soon  lined  the  roads  which 
led  to  the  towns  on  the  Connecticut  river.  Those  from 
Massachusetts  marched  to  Springfield,  and  up  the  valley 
of  the  Connecticut  river.  By  the  early  part  of  August, 
the  militia  from  these  provinces  began  to  rendezvous  at 
Number  Four  (Charlestown)  and  the  neighboring  towns 
in  large  numbers.  From  this  point  their  common  route 
lay  over  the  Green  Mountains  to  Skenesborough ;  but 
their  further  progress  was  delayed  by  the  wretched  con 
dition  of  the  roads,  which  the  heavy  rains  had  rendered 
almost  impassable.  The  low  country  about  Skenes 
borough  was  also  so  overflowed  that  communication  was 
difficult.  General  Gates  was  obliged  to  send  out  a  force 
of  four  hundred  men  from  Ticonderoga  to  repair  the 
roads  before  the  reinforcements  could  proceed.  From 
Skenesborough  these  troops  were  carried  to  Ticonderoga, 
the  distance  of  thirty  miles,  in  flat-boats.  Later  in  the 
season  the  communication  between  Ticonderoga  and  the 
Eastern  States  was  greatly  facilitated  by  the  construction 
of  a  new  road  from  the  foot  of  Mount  Independence  for 
about  thirty-five  miles  over  the  broken  and  ridgy  country, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  131 

through  the  woods  to  Rutland,  at  which  point  a  new 
bridge  was  built  over  Otter  creek. 

The  militia  came  in  such  numbers,  and  with  such  pre 
cipitation,  that  proper  provision  had  not  been  made  for 
them  in  the  wilderness  through  wrhich  they  were  obliged 
to  pass.  Transportation  was  difficult  to  procure  and  very 
expensive.  The  roads,  which  were  of  the  most  primitive 
kind  and  of  the  worst  possible  description,  were  heavy, 
and  the  progress  they  made  over  them  was  necessarily 
slow.  The  Massachusetts  troops  brought  an  abundant 
supply  of  good  tents  and  camp  utensils  with  them. 
Those  from  the  other  colonies  came  without  either.  The 
conclusion  of  a  day's  march,  therefore,  often  found  them 
beyond  the  reach  of  either  food  or  shelter ;  or,  if  they 
had  food,  without  the  means  to  prepare  it  with.  The 
sufferings  of  this  latter  number,  therefore,  were  great. 
They  often  arose  from  their  restless  bivouac,  weary,  wet, 
and  hungry,  to  resume  their  spiritless  march  on  the  fol 
lowing  day. 

The  progress  of  the  reinforcements  was  further  re 
tarded  by  inoculation.  New  difficulties  and  embarrass 
ments  were  thus  ever  arising  on  every  hand  to  increase 
the  burdens  of  those  dauntless  men  to  whom  we  are  in 
debted  for  our  liberties.  The  situation  of  affairs  on  the 
northern  frontier  was  deemed  too  perilous  to  admit  of  the 
delays  necessary  for  inoculation.  It  was  therefore  pro 
hibited,  and  the  troops  were  hurried  forward  without  it. 
Many  of  the  fainter-hearted  among  them,  however,  both 
officers  and  men,  were  overcome  by  their  dread  of  small 
pox  as  they  approached  the  army,  and  underwent  inocu 
lation  on  the  way,  in  disobedience  of  orders,  at  Number 
Four,  Williamstown,  Keene,  and  Claremont.  Numbers 
also  applied  to  the  local  physicians  for  it,  but  were 


132  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

refused.  In  strong  contrast  with  this  conduct  was  the 
courage  of  the  greater  number,  who  refused  to  receive  it 
themselves  and  condemned  it  in  others. 

It  was  from  small-pox  more  than  any  other  thing  that 
the  Northern  army  had  suffered.  The  strictest  measures 
had  been  taken  to  eliminate  it,  as  the  success  or  failure 
of  the  cause  depended  upon  its  removal.  But  notwith 
standing  all  the  precautionary  measures  that  had  been 
taken  the  disease  was  not  effectually  destroyed.  New 
cases  kept  constantly  breaking  out.  "Everything  about 
this  army  is  infected  with  the  pestilence,"  wrote  Gen 
eral  Gates,  "the  clothes,  the  blankets,  the  air,  and  the 
ground  we  walk  upon."  To  guard  against  its  further 
spread  the  following  general  order  had  been  made : — "  The 
commanding  officers  of  regiments  and  corps  are  to  be 
answerable  that  every  officer,  non-commissioned  officer, 
and  soldier,  who  shall  hereafter  be  infected  with  the 
small-pox,  be  immediately  sent  to  the  general  hospital 
at  Lake  George ;  but  previous  to  their  being  sent  they 
are  to  make  oath  as  follows: — 'I  do  solemnly  swear, 
by  the  ever-living  God,  that  I  have  not  received  the  in 
fection  of  the  small-pox  by  inoculation,  or  by  any  appli 
cation  internal  or  external,  but  have  taken  the  same  in  a 
manner  entirely  unknown  to  me,  and,  as  I  firmly  believe, 
by  the  oath  I  now  take,  in  the  natural  way,  and  no  other. 
So  help  me  God.'  In  case  any  man  refuses  to  take  the 
above  oath,  his  conscience  accusing  him  that  it  would  be 
perjury  so  to  do,  he  is  to  declare  the  name  of  the  person 
who  inoculated  him,  and  the  place  where  it  was  done, 
that  the  perpetrators  of  so  villainous  an  act  may  be  in 
stantly  brought  to  condign  punishment." 

The  prospect  of  its  reintroduction,  by  the  reinforce 
ments  of  militia,  now  that  the  army  was  nearly  free  from 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  133 

it,  was  met  on  all  hands  with  alarm  and  indignation. 
"Inoculation  for  the  small-pox  I  find  has  been  practiced 
by  the  troops  on  their  way  to  join  the  army,"  wrote  Gov 
ernor  Trumbull.  "I  hope  a  practice  so  pernicious  in 
every  respect  will  be  discouraged.  If  it  is  not  timely 
restrained,  it  appears  to  me  it  must  prove  fatal  to  all  our 
operations,  and  may  ruin  the  country." 

General  Gates  complained  bitterly  of  it,  declaring  that 
it  would  sacrifice  the  army;  demanding  that  the  physi 
cians  who  practiced  it  be  punished ;  and  threatening  the 
officers  who  had  suffered  it  with  court-martial  upon  their 
arrival  at  Skenesborough. 

General  Schuyler,  who  learned  it  upon  his  return  from 
the  conference  with  the  Six  Nations  at  German  Flats, 
wrote  at  once  to  General  Waterbury,  who  was  in  com 
mand  at  Skenesborough,  "You  will  please  to  dispatch 
three  or  four  trusty  officers  to  the  different  roads  which 
the  militia  take  in  their  way  to  Skenesborough,  with 
positive  orders  to  remove  all  officers  and  soldiers  in 
fected  with  the  small-pox  to  a  distance  from  the  roads ; 
no  excuse  is  to  be  taken ;  no  plea  of  danger  to  the  in 
fected  is  to  be  attended  to.  The  life  of  individuals  is 
not  to  be  put  into  competition  with  that  of  the  States." 

Among  those  who  were  turned  back  in  pursuance  of 
these  orders  were  Colonel  Ruggles  Woodbridge,  of  the 
Massachusetts  militia,  and  Major  William  Stacey. 

Fortunately,  the  reports  were  somewhat  exaggerated. 
What  real  danger  there  was  was  removed  by  the  pre 
cautions  taken,  and  with  the  approach  of  September  all 
trace  of  this  loathsome  disease  had  disappeared.  Unfor 
tunately,  all  other  diseases  did  not  disappear  with  it. 
There  were  still  prevalent  in  the  camp  at  that  time,  ac 
cording  to  the  report  of  a  board  of  surgeons,  "bilious, 


134  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

remitting,  and  intermitting  fevers,  with  some  of  the 
putrid  kind,  dysenteries,  diarrheas,  with  rheumatic  com 
plaints."  The  medical  chests  were  still  destitute  of  a 
number  of  very  necessary  medicines,  "and  the  sick  were 
without  the  necessary  comforts  of  barley,  coffee,  choc 
olate,  ginger,  oatmeal,  rice,  sugar,  mutton,  baume,  sage, 
&c." 

On  the  5th  of  August  a  regiment  of  Massachusetts 
militia,  under  Colonel  Edward  Wigglesworth,  five  hun 
dred  strong  and  in  a  good  state  of  discipline,  arrived  at 
Ticonderoga  and  went  into  camp  near  the  old  fort.  They 
were  followed  a  day  or  two  later  by  two  regiments  of 
New  Hampshire  militia  under  Colonel  Isaac  Wyman,  six 
hundred  and  six  strong,  and  Colonel  Joshua  Wingate,  six 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  strong,  and  another  regiment 
of  Massachusetts  militia  under  Colonel  Jonathan  Read, 
one  hundred  and  fifty-two  strong. 

By  the  third  week  in  August  the  army  at  Ticonderoga 
was  further  reinforced  by  two  regiments  of  Massachu 
setts  militia,  under  Colonel  Moses  Wheelock,  with  five 
hundred  and  thirty-three  men,  and  Colonel  Ruggles 
Woodbridge,  with  five  hundred  and  seventy-nine  men ; 
and  two  regiments  of  Connecticut  militia,  under  Colonel 
Heman  Swift,  four  hundred  and  forty-five  men,  and 
Colonel  Samuel  Mott,  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  men. 
The  army  was  further  strengthened  by  a  company  of 
artillery,  one  hundred  and  five  strong,  commanded  by 
Captain  S.  Badlam. 

The  New  Hampshire  regiments  of  Wingate  and  Wy 
man  were  assigned  to  the  third  brigade  on  Mount  Inde 
pendence,  under  Colonel  John  Stark.  The  Connecticut 
regiments  of  Swift  and  Mott  were  assigned  to  the  first 
brigade  on  Mount  Independence,  commanded  by  Colonel 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  135 

Maxwell  during  the  illness  of  Colonel  Grreaton,  and  the 
Massachusetts  regiments  of  Read,  Wigglesworth,  Wheel- 
ock,  and  Woodbridge,  who  had  been  enlisted  until  the 
Ist'of  December,  were  formed  into  a  new  brigade,  called 
the  fifth,  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  James 
Brickett,*  of  Massachusetts,  who  had  his  headquarters 
in  the  old  fort,  and  had  command  of  the  defense  of  the 
covert  way  and  the  works  depending  thereon.  The  brig 
ade  was  encamped  on  the  high  ground  to  the  westward 
of  old  Fort  Ticonderoga,  and  later  began  to  repair  the 
five  old  redoubts  which  the  French  had  thrown  up  in 
the  low  land  on  the  lake  shore,  to  the  north-east. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  Washington,  by  authority  of  Con 
gress,  ordered  General  Artemas  Ward,  at  Boston,  to  de 
tach  three  of  the  fullest  Continental  regiments  stationed 
in  Massachusetts  forthwith  to  march  to  Ticonderoga. 
"It  being  evident,  from  a  variety  of  concurring  circum 
stances,"  he  wrote  to  General  Ward,  "that  the  British 
armies  mean  to  direct  their  most  vigorous  operations  this 
campaign  against  the  State  of  New  York,  to  penetrate 
into  it  by  way  of  the  lakes  and  the  North  river,  and  to 
unite  their  attacks.  The  importance  of  it  has  induced 
Congress  to  take  further  measures  for  baffling  their  de 
signs  and  rendering  it  more  secure.  You  will  see  by  the 
resolves  now  transmitted,  that  the  Northern  army  is  to  be 

#  JAMES  BRICKETT  was  born  in  1737,  and  practiced  medicine  at  Haverhill, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  surgeon  in  the  British  army  at  Ticonderoga,  in  1759, 
and  was  lieutenant-colonel  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  was  wounded. 
On  the  llth  of  July,  1776,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Massachusetts  Council,  brig 
adier-general  of  the  forces  of  that  State  which  were  sent  to  reinforce  the  army 
at  Ticonderoga.  In  the  following  year  he  marched  in  the  ranks  of  the  militia  to 
reinforce  the  army  under  Gates,  at  Saratoga,  but  did  not  reach  there  until  after 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  Gates  appointed  him  a  brigadier-general  of  militia, 
and  he  commanded  the  troops  which  escorted  Burgoyne  and  his  suite  to  Albany, 
and  subsequently  formed  the  guard  of  the  British  army  in  their  march  to  Cam 
bridge.  He  died  at  Haverhill,  December  10th,  1818. 


136  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

augmented  by  part  of  the  troops  under  your  command ; 
and  I  do  desire  that  you  will  immediately  detach  for 
that  purpose  three  of  the  fullest  regiments  forthwith  to 
march  to  Ticonderoga,  or  such  other  place  as  the  army 
may  be  at,  and  put  themselves  under  the  order  and  di 
rections  of  the  general  officer  commanding  the  same." 
The  resolves  above  referred  to  also  authorized  Washing 
ton  to  call  out  an  equal  number  of  the  militia  of  that 
State. 

The  following  Massachusetts  regiments  of  Continental 
troops  were  accordingly  detached  by  General  Ward  : — 
Colonel  Asa  Whitcomb's,  four  hundred  and  forty-nine 
men ;  Colonel  Samuel  Brewer's,  six  hundred  and  thirty- 
one  men ;  Colonel  Aaron  Willard's,  three  hundred  and 
eighty-seven  men,  and  Colonel  Edmund  Phinney's,  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  men.  They  reached  Ticonderoga 
early  in  September.  Brewer's  and  Williard's  regiments 
encamped  near  the  saw-mill  which  had  been  built  by  the 
French,  on  the  outlet  of  Lake  George,  as  part  of  the 
fifth  brigade,  and  built  a  redoubt  there  for  the  protection 
of  the  pass ;  Whitcomb's  was  assigned  to  the  fourth 
brigade,  under  St.  Clair,  and  was  ordered  to  encamp  in 
the  vacant  space  reserved  for  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania, 
which  was  still  at  Crown  Point.  Phinney's  was  sent  to 
Fort  George,  but  returned  to  Ticonderoga  after  the  de 
feat  of  the  fleet,  and  was  assigned  to  the  second  brigade. 

An  independent  company  of  Mohican  Indians  from 
Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  under  command  of  Captain 
Ezra  Whittlesey,  was  encamped  near  Brewer's  regiment, 
distinguished  from  the  enemy's  Indians  by  a  blue  and 
red  cap.  They  were  intended  for  use  as  scouts,  but 
were  so  undisciplined  and  disorderly  that  the  sentries 
on  the  bridge  below  the  saw-mill  and  on  the  side  of  the 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  137 

French  lines  had  strict  orders  not  to  let  them  pass  with 
out  written  permission.  They  were  discharged  and  sent 
to  their  homes  in  the  latter  part  of  October. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  the  First  New  Jersey  Regiment 
was  transferred  from  Stark's  brigade  to  the  Pennsylva 
nia  brigade,  and  proceeded,  under  the  command  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Matthias  Ogden,  to  construct  a  redoubt, 
known  as  the  Jersey  redoubt,  in  the  low  lands  on  the 
point  of  the  peninsula  to  the  east  of  old  Fort  Ticonde- 
roga,  where  the  French  had  a  strong  redoubt  in  1758. 
Colonel  Wind  had  gone  home  and  did  not  return  until 
September.  This  redoubt,  when  completed,  mounted  1 
thirty-two,  2  eighteen,  3  twelve,  and  2  nine  pounders. 

Work  upon  the  fortifications  about  the  old  French 
lines  progressed  very  satisfactorily,  notwithstanding  the 
unfavorable  weather  and  the  scarcity  of  tools.  The  Au 
gust  days  were  hot,  the  nights  cold,  and  the  wet  weather 
continued ;  but  the  captains,  who  had  been  without  the 
comforts  of  a  bed  and  sheets  since  the  24th  of  March, 
got  their  tents  floored,  berths  erected  in  them,  and  were 
supplied  with  good  blankets,  which  made  them  comfort 
able  for  the  first  time  in  five  months.  By  the  last  week 
in  August  their  lines  were  nearly  completed.  They  con 
sisted  of  a  rampart  six  to  eight  feet  thick,  constructed  of 
earth  supported  by  fascines  and  neatly  sodded.  Outside 
of  the  rampart  was  a  ditch,  ten  feet  wide  by  five  feet 
deep.  On  the  other  side  of  the  ditch  was  a  stockade  of 
sharpened  stakes  driven  obliquely  outward. 

Captain  Roman's  company  of  Pennsylvania  artillery 
was  encamped  within  the  French  lines,  where  they  were 
reinforced  in  September  by  the  New  England  compa 
nies  commanded  by  Captain  Ebenezer  Stevens,  who  was 
placed  in  command  of  all  the  artillery  on  the  west  side 


138  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

of  the  lake.  These  artillery  companies  in  eight  days 
made  carriages  for  upwards  of  forty-seven  pieces,  and 
mounted  them. 

The  works  on  Mount  Independence  progressed  very 
slowly,  and  by  no  means  satisfactorily.  Much  time  was 
lost  by  the  New  Hampshire  and  Connecticut  troops  in 
covering  themselves  with  huts,  they  having  brought  no 
tents  with  them.  Attention  was  first  called  by  the  Gen 
eral  to  the  backward  state  of  the  works,  and  the  "shame 
ful  dilatoriousness"  of  the  troops  was  finally  rebuked  in 
general  orders. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  it  was  announced  that  Colonel 
James  Reed,*  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Colonel  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  of  Pennsylvania,  had  been  appointed  brigadier- 
generals  by  Congress.  Upon  the  promotion  of  Colonel 
St.  Clair,  Joseph  Wood,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  lieu 
tenant-colonelcy  upon  the  resignation  of  Allen,  became 
Colonel  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment.  Con 
siderable  contention  and  a  good  deal  of  feeling  grew  out 
of  the  promotion  of  Wood  to  succeed  Allen,  as  was  very 
often  the  case  when  promotions  were  made  in  the  Conti 
nental  army.  The  resignation  of  Allen  created  the  first 


*  JAMES  REED  was  born  in  Woburn,  Massachusetts,  in  1724,  and  had  served 
in  the  Indian  and  French  wars.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  British  army  under 
General  Abercrombie,  and  was  present  at  his  defeat  before  Ticonderoga,  in  July, 
1758.  He  was  also  with  General  Ainherst  in  the  following  year  when  Ticonde 
roga  fell  into  his  hands.  He  was  made  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  Xew  Hampshire 
troops,  June  1st,  1775,  with  which  he  marched  to  Boston  and  took  a  conspicuous 
part  in  the  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill.  His  regiment  was  incorporated  into  the 
Continental  army  upon  its  organization  in  January,  1776.  After  the  evacuation 
of  Boston  by  the  British,  he  marched  with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  from 
there  to  Canada,  in  the  brigade  of  General  Sullivan.  Shortly  after  the  retreat  of 
the  army  to  Ticonderoga,  he  was  attacked  with  the  fever  which  was  prevalent  at 
that  place,  and  was  removed  to  the  hospital  at  Fort  George.  He  was  made  brig 
adier-general  by  Congress,  August  9th,  1776.  His  illness  resulted  in  the  loss  of 
his  sight,  and  put  an  end  to  his  military  career.  He  died  at  Fitchburg,  Massa 
chusetts,  February  13th,  1807. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  139 

vacancy  that  had  occurred  since  the  organization  of  the 
Pennsylvania  regiments,  and  no  plan  of  promotion  had 
been  adopted  by  Congress.  Wood  was  Morris'  junior 
officer,  and  if  the  field  officers  were  to  be  promoted  by 
the  line,  Morris  was  entitled  to  the  vacant  rank.  If  they 
were  to  rise  regimentally,  it  belonged  to  Wood.  In  this 
instance,  Congress  adopted  the  regimental  plan,  after 
considerable  discussion  wherein,  though  not  strictly  rel 
evant  to  the  issue,  the  respective  claims  of  the  two  offi 
cers  were  strongly  pressed  by  their  friends.  General 
Gates  espoused  the  cause  of  Morris,  and  a  letter  from 
Captain  Jonathan  Jones  to  Major  Morgan,  at  Philadel 
phia,  criticising  Major  Wood's  conduct  at  the  battle  of 
Three  Rivers,  was  used  against  that  officer.  Major 
Morris  considered  himself  greatly  aggrieved  at  the  pro 
motion  of  Wood.  "Congress  having  been  pleased  to 
promote  a  junior  officer  over  me,"  he  wrote  to  a  friend 
in  Philadelphia,  from  Ticonderoga,  "has  rendered  a  con 
tinuance  in  the  service  under  the  present  circumstances 
incompatible  with  my  honor.  Nothing  but  a  sense  of 
duty  toward  the  public,  as  well  as  not  being  able  to 
answer  it  to  my  own  feelings,  prevented  my  resigning 
immediately  on  hearing  of  Major  Wood's  preferment." 
Congress  shortly  after  admitted  its  error  by  adopting 
the  plan  of  promoting  field  officers  by  the  line,  and  the 
wrong  done  Major  Morris  was  partially  atoned  by  his 
promotion,  two  months  later,  to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy 
of  his  own  regiment. 

The  troops  labored  on  the  intrenchments  unremittingly, 
without  a  day's  rest,  for  ten  weeks,  until  Sunday,  the  22d 
of  September,  when  the  General  ordered  all  work  except 
that  necessary  for  the  equipment  of  vessels  to  be  sus 
pended,  and  divine  service  to  be  held  in  every  brigade, 


140        THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF   CANADA. 

at  which  all  troops  were  ordered  to  be  present  with  their 
arms  and  accoutrements  in  good  order. 

Time  was  found,  in  the  midst  of  these  scenes  of  mili 
tary  activity,  to  try  many  deserters  and  other  offenders 
by  court-martial.  They  were  usually  sentenced  to  receive 
forty  stripes  save  one,  on  their  bare  backs,  at  guard-mount 
ing,  at  the  head  of  their  regiments.  As  an  additional 
penalty,  one  was  sentenced  "to  wear  a  withe  round  his 
neck  for  fourteen  days  as  a  mark  of  ignominy,"  and  an 
other,  "to  be  drummed  out  of  the  army  with  a  halter 
round  his  neck,  and  sent  over  Lake  George." 

Though  the  labors  on  the  intrenchments  were  inces 
sant,  great  attention  was  paid  to  the  cleanly  appearance 
of  the  Pennsylvania  troops.  Soap  was  provided  in  abund 
ance,  and  the  men  were  required  to  appear  upon  parade 
with  "their  hair  well  powdered  and  neatly  tied  and 
plaited." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

AVork  on  the  Fleet  at  Skenesborough — Arnold  Assigned  to  the  Command — 
Arrival  of  part  of  the  Fleet  at  Crown  Point — A  False  Alarm — Conflict  of 
Authority  between  General  Arnold  and  Captain  Wynkoop— The  Fleet  Sails 
down  Lake  Champlain — Arrives  at  Windmill  Point — Position  of  the  British 
Army — A  Boat's  Crew  driven  from  the  Shore  with  Loss  of  Life — The  Fleet 
Cannonades  the  Wood,  which  occasions  a  False  Report  of  an  Engagement 
with  the  Enemy — Activity  at  Ticonderoga  and  Albany  in  Consequence 
Thereof — False  Reports  from  the  Mohawk  Country — The  Fleet  Ascends  the 
Lake  and  Anchors  behind  Yalcour  Island — Colonel  Edward  Wigglesworth 
— The  Row-Galleys  join  the  Fleet — Sickness  among  the  Ship-carpenters  at 
Skenesborough. 

WHILE  the  troops  were  busy  fortifying  Ticonderoga 
and  Mount  Independence,  the  ship-carpenters  who  had 
been  sent  up  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard  were  rapidly 
pushing  forward  the  work  on  the  fleet  at  Skenesborough. 
General  Arnold,  who  had  had  considerable  experience  in 
ship-building  and  navigation  as  a  merchant  before  the 
war,  had  been  assigned  by  General  Gates  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  fleet.  He  had  turned  his  attention  in  the 
same  direction  after  the  fall  of  Ticonderoga  in  the  pre 
ceding  year,  when  he  armed,  manned,  and  equipped  a 
little  squadron  upon  the  lake,  consisting  of  a  sloop,  a 
schooner,  and  a  flotilla  of  bateaux.  He  gave  his  per 
sonal  supervision  to  the  construction  of  the  fleet,  as 
sisted  by  General  David  Waterbury,  of  Connecticut, 
who  had  been  appointed  second  officer,  and  of  whom 
Gates  spoke  *;as  an  able  seaman  and  a  brave  officer/' 
There  was  a  small  garrison  stationed  at  Skenesborough 

(141) 


142  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

for  the  protection  of  the  carpenters  (composed  at  differ 
ent  times  of  Wynkoop's  and  parts  of  Swift's  and  Van 
Dyke's  regiments),  who  occupied  the  large  stone  man 
sion  and  other  stone  buildings  which  had  been  erected 
there  by  Governor  Skene. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  ten  sergeants,  six  corporals,  six 
drummers,  and  a  hundred  and  two  privates  were  drafted 
from  the  four  Pennsylvania  regiments,  to  serve  as  sea 
men  and  marines  on  board  the  fleet. 

By  the  5th  of  August,  the  schooner  Royal  Savage, 
Captain  Jacobus  Wynkoop,  carrying  4  six-pounders,  8 
four-pounders,  and  fifty  men ;  the  sloop  Enterprise,  Cap 
tain  Dickenson,  carrying  12  four-pounders  and  fifty  men 
(which  had  been  captured  by  Arnold  from  the  British  at 
St.  Johns  in  May,  1775);  the  schooner  Revenge,  Captain 
Seaman,  carrying  4  four  and  4  two  pounders  and  thirty- 
five  men ;  and  the  gondolas  Boston,  Captain  Sumner ; 
New  Haven,  Captain  Samuel  Mansfield;  and  Providence, 
Captain  Simonds,  carrying  each  1  twelve  and  2  six 
pounders  and  forty-five  men,  were  ready  for  service, 
and  sailed  down  the  lake  to  Crown  Point.  Within  a  few 
days  they  were  joined  there  by  the  schooner  Liberty, 
Captain  Premier,  carrying  4  four  and  4  two  pounders 
and  thirty-five  men  (which  had  been  captured  at  Skenes- 
borough  by  Captain  Herrick,  in  May,  1775);  and  gon 
dolas  Spitfire,  Captain  Ulmer ;  New  York,  Captain  Reed, 
and  Connecticut,  Captain  Grant,  each  carrying  1  twelve 
and  2  six  pounders  and  forty-five  men.  All  of  these 
vessels  had  been  rigged  and  received  their  armament  at 
Ticonderoga. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  15th,  Arnold  joined 
them  at  Crown  Point,  having  left  Colonel  Greaton,  while 
his  health  permitted,  to  command  the  first  brigade.  In 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  143 

common  with  General  Schuyler,  and  most  others  whose 
duties  exposed  them  to  the  malaria  of  the  district,  Ar 
nold  was  suffering  from  a  slight  attack  of  intermittent 
fever.  On  the  17th,  a  party  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  posted  seven  miles  down  the  lake  as  a  cover 
ing  party  for  the  oar-makers,  had  built  a  large  fire,  which 
was  interpreted  as  a  signal  that  the  enemy  was  approach 
ing.  Arnold  at  once  sent  Colonel  Hartley  with  one  hun 
dred  men  to  their  assistance,  and  ordered  the  schooners 
Revenge  and  Liberty  to  move  down  the  lake.  The 
schooners  had  no  sooner  got  under  way  than  they  were 
brought  to  by  a  shot  across  their  bows  from  the  Royal 
Savage.  It  was  occasioned  by  a  conflict  of  authority 
between  General  Arnold  and  Captain  Wynkoop.  The 
latter  contended  that  having  been  appointed  by  General 
Schuyler  in  May  (under  authority  of  Congress  and  the 
province  of  New  York),  to  the  command  of  all  the  ves 
sels  on  Lake  Champlain,  he  had  not  been  regularly  su 
perseded  by  Arnold's  appointment,  which  came  only  from 
General  Gates.  General  Gates'  attention  was  called  im 
mediately  to  the  conduct  of  Captain  Wynkoop,  where 
upon  he  put  him  under  arrest,  and  sent  him  to  General 
Schuyler  at  Albany. 

On  the  24th,  Arnold  sailed  from  Crown  Point  with  the 
fleet,  ten  vessels  in  number.  His  quarters  were  on  board 
Wynkoop's  vessel,  the  Royal  Savage,  to  the  command  of 
which  Captain  Hawley  was  subsequently  appointed.  On 
the  night  of  the  25th,  the  fleet  anchored  at  Willsborough, 
below  Split  Rock,  where  it  was  overtaken  on  the  follow 
ing  day  by  a  violent  storm  from  the  north-east.  Further 
progress  was  not  only  impossible,  but  by  two  o'clock  the 
storm  had  increased  to  such  a  degree  of  violence  that 
the  safety  of  the  fleet  made  it  necessary  to  weigh  anchor 


144  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

and  ascend  the  lake,  before  the  gale,  to  Button-mould 
Bay,  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake  above  Split  Rock,  where 
they  found  shelter.  The  gale  continued  without  inter 
mission  until  the  1st  of  September,  when  the  fleet  again 
proceeded  down  the  lake,  under  the  influence  of  a  fresh 
southerly  breeze,  and  reached  Schuyler's  Island  on  the 
evening  of  the  2d.  Navigation  of  the  lake  beyond  that 
point  being  unsafe  at  night,  they  anchored  there  until  the 
following  morning. 

On  the  3d,  with  the  same  favorable  wind,  they  reached 
Windmill  Point,  at  the  northern  end  of  the  lake,  within 
two  or  three  miles  of  the  Canadian  border. 

An  outpost  of  the  enemy,  several  hundred  strong,  oc 
cupied  Isle  aux  Tete,  six  miles  below,  and  the  country 
intervening  between  that  island  and  Windmill  Point. 
Upon  the  approach  of  the  fleet  this  advance  guard  re 
treated  precipitately,  with  the  report  that  the  rebels  had 
appeared  in  their  front  with  forty  vessels. 

At  that  time  General  Fraser  occupied  Isle  aux  Noix, 
to  which  place  he  had  advanced  on  the  10th  of  August 
with  five  companies  of  grenadiers,  five  companies  of  light 
infantry,  and  the  twenty-fourth  regiment.  Masons  had 
previously  been  sent  there  to  repair  the  old  French  de 
fences  of  the  island.  It  had  been  selected  as  the  base 
of  supplies  for  the  British  army  which  was  about  to  cross 
the  lake,  and  for  that  purpose  had  been  strongly  forti 
fied.  Magazines,  depots,  block-houses,  and  barracks  had 
been  erected  there.  Carleton,  who  had  returned  from 
Quebec,  had  his  headquarters  at  Chamblee,  where  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne  also  was  with  the  first  brigade,  and  Gen 
eral  Phillips  with  the  corps  of  artillery.  The  sixty- 
second  regiment  and  twro  hundred  Germans  were  at  St. 
Johns,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Specht.  The  remainder 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  145 

of  the  German  troops  were  at  La  Prairie,  under  General 
Riedesel.  Gordon's  brigade  was  encamped  on  the  road 
from  St.  Johns  to  La  Prairie.  The  twenty-second  regi 
ment  was  on  the  road  from  St.  Johns  to  Chamblee.  A 
train  of  artillery,  consisting  of  8  twenty-four,  12  eighteen, 
18  twelve  pounders  and  guns  of  other  calibre,  had  been 
sent  forward  to  Isle  aux  Noix,  to  be  mounted  on  the  in- 
trenchments  there. 

Arnold  posted  his  guard-boats  a  mile  below  Windmill 
Point,  and  effectually  blockaded  the  lake  by  mooring  his 
vessels  in  a  line  across  it.  He  also  sent  Lieutenant 
Whitcomb  down  the  west  side  of  the  Sorel  river,  and 
Ensign  McCoy  down  the  east  side,  with  a  squad  of  three 
men  each,  to  obtain  intelligence  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  6th  he  was  joined  at  Windmill  Point  by  the 
row-galley  Lee,  commanded  by  Captain  Davis,  carrying 
1  twelve,  1  nine,  and  4  four  pounders  and  eighty-six 
men ;  and  the  gondola  Jersey,  Captain  Grimes,  carrying 
1  twelve  and  2  six  pounders  and  forty-five  men.  On 
the  same  day  the  boats  were  ordered  on  shore  to  cut 
fascines  to  fix  on  the  bows  and  sides  of  the  gondolas,  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  boarding  them  and  to  keep  off 
small  shot.  A  boat's  crew  of  the  sloop  Enterprise  went 
on  shore  without  a  covering  party.  They  had  been  out 
upon  the  same  duty  the  two  preceding  days  with  cover 
ing  parties  and  returned  unmolested,  but  upon  this  occa 
sion  they  neglected  that  precaution,  when  they  were 
attacked  by  a  party  of  the  Forty-seventh  Regiment  and 
savages,  under  Lieutenant  Scott  of  the  light  infantry  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  who  pursued  them  into  the 
water.  They  all  reached  the  boat,  but  before  they  could 
row  off,  three  of  them,  Michael  Sargent,  Thomas  Allen, 
and  Moses  Powell,  were  killed ;  and  six  others,  Robert 


146  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

Owens,  George  Stanley,  Archibald  McDonald,  James 
Quarel,  John  Shoemaker,  and  Jonathan  Stody,  were 
wounded.  A  heavy  cannonade  was  opened  from  the 
fleet  upon  the  woods,  which  was  heard  at  Crown  Point 
and  reported  at  Ticonderoga  immediately  by  Colonel 
Hartley  as  an  action  between  the  hostile  fleets.  Gates 
in  turn  spread  the  alarm  by  sending  the  information  to 
Schuyler.  He  also  issued  an  order  to  the  troops  at  mid 
night,  expressing  the  greatest  confidence  in  their  firm 
ness  and  fidelity ;  reminding  them  that  the  fleet  was 
only  their  advance  guard ;  that  if  it  was  defeated  the 
defence  of  the  United  States  and  of  American  freedom 
would  fall  upon  them,  and  hoping  that  every  officer  and 
soldier  under  his  command  would  prepare  to  the  utmost 
of  their  ability  to  repel  the  attack  of  the  enemy.  It 
was  some  days  before  they  were  relieved  of  their  sus 
pense  arid  the  cause  of  the  firing  explained. 

When  the  alarm  reached  General  Schuyler,  he  applied 
to  the  counties  of  Dutchess  and  Ulster  in  New  York,  and 
the  neighboring  counties  of  New  England,  to  order  their 
militia  up.  About  the  same  time  he  received  through 
Colonel  Dayton,  who  was  at  Fort  Schuyler,  a  report  that 
a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  composed  chiefly  of  Indians, 
would  shortly  arrive  at  Oswego,  and  that  another  body 
was  on  the  march  for  the  Mohawk.  There  was  also  some 
apprehension  that  they  might  come  in  by  Fort  George  and 
attempt  to  cut  off  the  communication  with  Ticonderoga. 
This  invading  force,  as  was  gathered  from  the  statements 
of  prisoners,  was  composed  of  nearly  eight  hundred  In 
dians,  Maclean's*  Royal  Highland  emigrants,  and  some 
Canadians,  New  York  royalists,  known  as  the  Royal 

*  COLONEL  MACLEAN  had  become  dissatisfied  because  he  had  not  received  the 
advancement  he  expected,  and  had  returned  to  London  in  July. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  147 

Greens,  and  Scotch  volunteers  under  Sir  John  Johnson, 
who  cherished  the  most  bitter  resentment  against  the  pa 
triots,  who  had  driven  him  from  his  patrimonial  estate  in 
the  country  of  the  Mohawk.  This  gentleman,  apprehen 
sive  of  arrest,  left  his  home  (Johnson  Hall,  near  Johns 
town)  in  June,  1776,  with  a  company  of  loyalists  and 
Mohawk  Indians,  and  after  nineteen  days'  journey  through 
the  pathless  wilderness  lying  between  the  head  waters  of 
the  Hudson  and  the  St.  Lawrence,  reached  Montreal, 
where  he  was  cordially  received  by  Sir  Guy  Carleton, 
who  gave  him  a  commission  to  raise  two  battalions  of  five 
hundred  men  each. 

Schuyler,  therefore,  amidst  these  gathering  alarms 
from  different  quarters,  which  continued  to  harass  him 
throughout  the  Ml  (for  it  was  not  known  to  him  that' 
the  British  had  abandoned  all  designs  upon  the  Mohawk 
country  before  the  first  of  August),  made  a  further  ap 
peal  for  militia  to  the  committee  of  Albany  county.  The 
appeal  was  promptly  responded  to,  and  the  militia  began 
to  arrive  at  Albany  almost  immediately. 

Gates  desired  all  the  available  militia  to  be  sent  to 
Fort  George  and  Skenesborough,  but  Schuyler  deemed  it 
advisable  to  hold  them  at  Albany  until  further  informa 
tion  should  enable  him  to  determine  whether  they  would 
be  most  needed  to  the  westward  or  at  Ticonderoga.  It 
was  deemed  prudent,  also,  by  Schuyler,  ultimately  to 
send  parts  of  Wynkoop's,  Van  Schaick's,  Van  Dyke's, 
and  Mott's  regiments  into  the  tory  districts  on  the  Mo 
hawk,  and  to  keep  Nicholson's  and  Elmore's  Continental 
regiments  there  also.  When  the  cause  of  the  false  alarm 
from  Ticonderoga  was  communicated  to  Schuyler,  he 
countermanded  his  order  for  the  militia,  and  sent  those 
from  Albany  home. 


148  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

On  the  second  night  after  the  false  alarm  created  by 
the  firing  of  the  fleet  upon  the  savages,  mysterious  move 
ments  were  discovered  on  shore  opposite  Windmill  Point, 
which  gave  rise  to  the  belief  that  the  enemy  were  secretly 
erecting  batteries  on  both  sides  of  the  lake,  with  the  de 
sign  of  attacking  the  fleet.  As  the  lake  was  only  a  mile 
and  a  quarter  wide  at  that  point,  it  was  deemed  prudent 
by  Arnold  to  weigh  anchor  and  ascend  to  a  place  of 
greater  security.  He  accordingly  got  all  his  vessels 
under  sail  before  daybreak  and  anchored  the  fleet  at  Isle 
la  Motte,  eight  miles  further  up  the  lake,  where  it  is 
two  miles  in  width,  at  two  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  8th.  Four  guard-boats  were  kept  constantly  out, 
and  another  went  the  rounds  every  two  hours  of  the 
night,  to  prevent  surprise. 

About  this  time  sickness  began  to  appear  among  the 
men  on  board  the  fleet,  and  to  increase  rapidly.  It  be 
came  necessary  to  send  thirty-seven  of  their  number 
back  to  the  general  hospital.  Like  their  comrades  at 
Ticonderoga,  the  men  were  greatly  in  want  of  suitable 
clothing  to  protect  them  from  the  increasing  severity  of 
the  weather,  and  they  were  also  scant  of  rum,  which,  in 
the  absence  of  clothing,  was  resorted  to  to  keep  out  the 
wet  and  cold. 

They  were  supplied  with  provisions  for  six  or  eight 
days  only,  which  was  not  sufficient  for  their  safety,  for 
at  that  stormy  season  of  the  year  it  often  took  that 
length  of  time  to  communicate  between  the  two  ends  of 
the  lake,  and  they  had  no  base  of  supplies  nearer  than 
Ticonderoga. 

On  the  9th,  the  fleet  was  further  strengthened  by  the 
arrival  at  Isle  la  Motte  of  the  gondola  Philadelphia, 
Captain  Ilice,  carrying  1  twelve  and  2  six  pounders  and 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  149 

forty-five  men,  with  Colonel  Wiggles  worth*  on  board,  who 
had  been  appointed  third  officer  of  the  fleet. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  at  noon,  Arnold,  having 
cruised  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  lake 
without  encountering  the  slightest  resistance  from  the 
enemy's  vessels,  weighed  anchor  with  the  whole  fleet  and 
arrived  the  same  evening  at  Bay  St.  Amand,  two  leagues 
to  the  northward  of  Cumberland  Head,  on  the  west  shore 
of  the  lake.  They  were  pursued  up  the  shore  by  two  or 
three  hundred  British  Canadians  and  savages,  with  whom 
shots  were  exchanged,  with  loss  on  both  sides.  Those  sub 
tle  savages  were  provided  with  a  number  of  white-birch 
canoes,  which  they  kept  concealed  in  the  bushes  during 
the  day,  and  in  the  night  prowled  about  the  water  in 
them  undiscovered,  with  the  purpose  of  intercepting  the 
dispatch  or  supply  boats,  or  otherwise  harassing  the  fleet. 

The  fleet  was  overtaken  at  Bay  St.  Amand,  on  the 
20th,  by  an  exceedingly  heavy  equinoctial  gale,  which  it 
managed  to  ride  without  loss  or  serious  damage.  Arnold 
sent  boats  from  here  to  make  soundings  around  Valcour 
Island,  with  the  intention  of  taking  permanent  position 
there  and  awaiting  the  approach  of  the  enemy's  fleet. 
He  was  growing  very  impatient  at  the  delay  of  the  row- 
galleys  (which  were  being  constructed  at  Skenesborough, 
nearly  after  the  model  of  those  built  in  Philadelphia), 


*  EDWARD  WIGGLESWORTH  was  born  in  Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  January  3d, 
1742.  He  was  appointed  a  captain  of  matrosses  by  the  Massachusetts  Assembly, 
June  29th,  1776.  He  was  subsequently  appointed  colonel  of  one  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  regiments  of  militia  intended  for  the  reinforcement  of  the  army  at 
Ticonderoga.  After  his  arrival  at  that  place  with  his  regiment,  General  Gates 
appointed  him  third  officer  of  the  fleet.  On  the  6th  of  November,  1776,  he  was 
appointed  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  regular  troops  in  the  new  Continental  estab 
lishment,  which  commission  he  resigned  March  10th,  1779.  He  was  appointed 
Collector  of  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  by  Washington,  at  which  place  he  died 
December  8th,  1826. 


150  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

which  he  deemed  of  great  importance  to  the  strength  of 
the  fleet.  Availing  himself  of  the  first  fair  wind,  he 
sailed  up  to  Valcour  Island  on  the  23d,  where  he  moored 
his  vessels  in  a  line  across  the  narrow  pass  between  the 
island  and  the  western  shore  of  the  lake.  This  pass  was 
deep  enough  for  the  purposes  of  navigation,  and  half  a 
mile  wide.  From  here  he  sent  a  German  and  a  New 
Englander  as  spies  into  Canada,  with  their  instructions 
and  credentials  sewed  up  between  the  soles  of  their 
shoes.  He  also  stationed  two  men  on  Isle  la  Motte  to 
watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  The  schooners  Re 
venge  and  Liberty  were  constantly  cruising  above  and 
below  Valcour  Island,  and  half  the  men  on  each  vessel 
were  kept  constantly  on  deck  with  matches  lighted  to 
guard  against  surprise.  Lieutenant  Whitcomb  was  also 
kept  upon  scout  duty  down  the  lake. 

This  daring  officer  had  been  continually  employed  upon 
this  service  since  his  assassination  of  General  Gordon, 
though  the  policy  of  retaining  him  was  much  criticized  in 
the  army,  and  upon  one  occasion  had  brought  into  Ticon- 
deroga,  as  prisoner,  a  quartermaster  of  a  British  regi 
ment. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  Arnold  was  joined  at  Val 
cour  Island,  to  his  great  relief,  by  the  row-galley  Trum- 
bull,  Captain  Warner,  carrying  1  eighteen,  1  twelve,  2 
nine,  and  4  six  pounders,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
6th  of  October,  the  fleet  was  completed  by  the  arrival  of 
General  Waterbury,  with  the  row-galleys  Congress,  car 
rying  2  eight,  2  twelve,  and  4  six  pounders,  and  Wash 
ington,  Captain  Thatcher,  carrying  1  eighteen,  1  twelve, 
2  nine,  and  4  four  pounders.  General  Arnold  at  once 
shifted  his  quarters  from  the  Royal  Savage  to  the  Con- 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  151 

The  completion  of  these  last  vessels  had  been  greatly 
delayed  by  the  prostration  of  the  ship-carpenters  at 
Skenesborough,  with  chills  and  fever  and  other  maladies. 
By  the  last  of  August  not  one  in  five  was  able  to  work. 
When  the  galleys  were  finished  many  of  the  carpenters 
were  sent  home,  and  by  the  last  of  September  they  were 
all  so  exhausted  by  disease  that  no  more  work  could  be 
expected  from  them. 

General  Waterbury  took  command  of  the  Washington 
and  Colonel  Wiggles  worth  of  the  Trumbull.  The  whole 
fleet  thus  completed  consisted  of  sixteen  sail,  carrying 
ninety-four  guns,  and  about  eight  hundred  officers  and 
men.  By  directions  of  General  Gates,  it  was  divided 
into  three  divisions,  with  General  Arnold  in  the  centre, 
General  Waterbury  on  the  right,  and  Colonel  Wiggles- 
worth  on  the  left.  "This  disposition,"  wrote  General 
Gate§,  "  will  teach  the  captains  of  the  vessels  to  know 
their  commanding  officers,  and  prevent  any  confusion  or 
dispute  about  command  in  case  an  unlucky  shot,  or  other 
accident,  should  take  off  the  general." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Scarcity  of  Clothing  in  the  Array — Anxiety  occasioned  by  Expiring  Enlist 
ments — De  Haas,'  Maxwell's,  and  part  of  Wind's  Kegiments  Consent  to  Ke- 
main — Movements  of  the  British  Army — Arrival  of  a  Second  Detachment 
of  Hessian  and  Brunswick  Troops — The  British  Advance  up  the  Lake — 
General  William  Phillips— News  of  the  Naval  Battle  received  at  Ticon- 
deroga — Arrival  of  Arnold  with  the  Remains  of  the  Fleet  at  Ticonderoga. 

THE  weather  was  becoming  cold  and  the  army  at  Ti 
conderoga  was  still  greatly  in  need  of  all  kinds  of  cloth 
ing,  but  chiefly  of  shoes  and  stockings,  none  of  which 
were  to  be  had  in  that  country.  All  they  had  received 
since  they  left  Canada  were  one  thousand  and  eight  pairs 
of  shoes,  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  pairs  of  moc 
casins,  and  four  hundred  and  fifty-four  shirts,  to  be  dis 
tributed  among  four  thousand  men  fit  for  duty.  Although 
a  large  share  of  these  fell  to  the  Pennsylvania  brigade, 
many  of  them  were  still  without  either,  and  had  been 
without  them  since  they  lost  them  at  Quebec  or  in  the 
swamps  before  the  battle  of  Three  Rivers.  "Unless  a 
very  speedy  supply  is  sent,"  wrote  General  Schuyler  to 
Congress,  "the  most  fatal  consequences  will  ensue."  He 
urged  Congress  as  a  last  resort  to  procure  a  supply  of 
yarn  socks  in  Pennsylvania,  and  piece  them  out  with 
Indian  stockings.  Later,  Governor  Trumbull  sent  them 
two  loads  of  clothing,  and  the  continued  reports  of  their 
distressing  condition  led  Congress  to  direct  Mease  and 
Caldwell  to  send  them  all  they  had  in  the  general  store  at 

(152) 


THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE   CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.         153 

Philadelphia,  consisting  of  fourteen  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  pairs  of  men's  shoes,  nine  hundred  and  sixty  pairs 
of  milled  yarn  hose,  twenty-three  hundred  and  eighty 
white  linen  shirts,  and  fifteen  hundred  Russia  linen  shirts. 
Colonel  De  Haas,  writing  from  Ticonderoga,  speaks  of 
the  condition  of  his  men  as  follows : — "  The  arms  are  in 
tolerable  order,  but  of  different  calibre.  The  accoutre 
ments  bad,  many  bayonets  wanting.  The  men  almost 
naked,  and  have  been  so  two-thirds  of  the  campaign, 
their  clothing,  when  they  marched  from  Philadelphia, 
being  very  scanty,  and  not  a  second  shirt  to  their  backs. 
The  pitiful  supplies  of  sundry  articles  which  they  re 
ceived  since,  were  bad  of  the  kind,  and  at  most  exorbi 
tant  prices.  On  our  arrival  at  the  Isle  aux  Noix,  after 
the  retreat  from  Quebec,  the  regiment  mustered  upwards 
of  five  hundred  rank  and  file  fit  for  duty.  By  com 
paring  the  above  return  with  the  then  state  of  the  regi 
ment,  it  will  appear  that  they  have  suffered  from  the 
excessive  fatigue  they  have  gone  through,  the  want  of 
proper  clothing  to  cover,  and  the  want  of  blankets  and 
tents  to  shelter  them  from  the  weather.  To  this  day 
we  have  not  tents  sufficient  for  two-thirds  of  the  men, 
and  those  we  have  were  old  when  we  received  them.  A 
regimental  commissary  and  paymaster  are  unknown  to  us. 
(The  latter  I  have  been  myself.)  The  quartermaster 
has  never  been  enabled  by  the  public  to  supply  the  regi 
ment  in  a  proper  manner.  After  the  hardships  of  a 
winter  campaign  in  Canada,  with  those  they  have  since 
experienced,  there  is  not  the  least  reason  to  think  that 
any  of  the  men  will  re-enlist  at  this  place.  The  merit 
of  those  officers  who  can  afford  and  choose  to  continue 
in  the  service  on  the  present  inadequate  terms  will  be 
best  determined  after  the  expected  attack." 


154  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

Congress  had  sent  to  General  Schuyler  $300,000,  half 
of  which  he  immediately  sent  to  Canada.  In  June  they 
sent  him  $21,752.50  in  silver  and  $187,000  in  paper 
money.  $100,000  more  was  taken  up  by  General  Gates. 
In  August  they  sent  him  the  still  further  sum  of  $513,- 
000,  which  was  much  needed  to  pay  for  the  mileage  and 
billeting  of  the  militia.  But  these  supplies  of  money 
enabled  him  only  partially  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
army,  which  were  daily  increasing,  and  of  which  he  was 
so  constantly  and  painfully  reminded  and  which  he  la 
bored  so  faithfully  and  patriotically  to  relieve.  By  the 
middle  of  August,  with  the  most  rigid  economy,  his 
money-chests  contained  less  than  $100,000. 

Though  still  suffering  from  the  need  of  many  things, 
the  Northern  Army  had  become  at  length  the  first  object 
of  the  care  and  solicitude  of  Congress  and  the  Colonies, 
who  had  been  tardily  awakened  by  the  oft-told  tales  of 
their  sufferings  to  a  sense  of  the  neglect  with  which  this 
army  had  been  treated.  Even  now  much  of  the  interest 
they  manifested  was  owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  fact  that  it 
was  no  longer  an  army  of  conquest  sent  to  acquire  terri 
tory  of  which  they  knew  comparatively  little,  with  whose 
people  they  had  little  or  no  intercourse,  and  with  whom 
they  were  not  allied  by  the  ties  of  either  language  or 
religion ;  but  that  the  army  then  stood  upon  their  own 
frontier,  and  formed  their  only  barrier  against  the  perils 
of  an  invasion,  which,  if  successful,  would  sever  the  col 
onies  in  twain.  Even  the  pressing  wants  of  Washing 
ton's  army,  then  about  to  begin  its  disastrous  retreat 
across  the  Jerseys,  were  postponed  in  the  anxiety  and 
interest  which  had  been  awakened  for  the  Northern 
Army. 

In  the   midst   of  the   manifold   embarrassments  with 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  155 

which  General  Schuyler  had  to  contend  in  his  efforts  to 
rehabilitate  and  reinforce  the  Northern  Army,  a  new 
cause  for  anxiety  (the  fruit  of  short  enlistments)  now 
presented  itself.  The  time  of  service  of  De  Haas,'  Max 
well's,  and  Wind's  regiments  was  rapidly  running  out. 
DeHaas'  had  been  enlisted  until  October  27th.  Schuy 
ler  earnestly  entreated  Congress  to  take  some  measures 
to  retain  these  troops ;  he  also  called  Washington's  atten 
tion  to  this  new  source  of  peril  to  the  cause,  and  urged 
him  to  request  Congress  to  offer  these  regiments  some 
inducements  to  remain  until  all  danger  was  over.  "If 
they  leave  Ticonderoga,"  he  wrote,  "it  will  not  only 
weaken,  but  greatly  dispirit  our  troops."  Washington 
at  once  laid  the  matter  before  Congress,  but  replied  to 
Schuyler  that  it  was  too  late  for  Congress  to  act,  or  for 
anything  to  be  done  unless  the  officers  would  exert  them 
selves  in  prevailing  on  the  men  to  remain.  "If  the  offi 
cers  are  spirited  and  well  inclined,"  he  added,  "they  may 
lead  their  men  as  they  please."  To  these,  therefore, 
Schuyler  resorted.  "For  God's  sake,"  he  wrote  to  Gates, 
"try  to  keep  the  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  regi 
ments  in  service  until  every  possibility  of  the  enemy's 
crossing  the  lake  this  campaign  disappears.  They  may, 
as  you  imagine,  soon  make  the  attempt.  I  rather  wish 
they  would  than  delay  it  five  or  six  weeks  longer,  as  I 
fear  too  many  of  our  troops  will  leave  you  by  that  time." 
The  reliance  of  Washington  upon  the  officers  as  a  last 
resort  was  not  misplaced.  De  Haas'  and  Maxwell's  regi 
ments  cheerfully  consented  to  remain  as  long  as  an  enemy 
was  in  their  front.  Colonel  Wind  and  the  greater  part  of 
his  officers  and  men  refused,  and  left  the  camp  on  the 
6th  of  November,  followed  by  the  reproof  of  the  General 
and  their  companions  in  arms.  Drums  were  beat  by 


156  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

order  of  General  Gates  "in  derision  of  the  few  who  had 
the  baseness  to  quit  their  post  in  this  time  of  danger.'' 
De  Haas,'  Maxwell's,  and  such  of  the  First  New  Jersey, 
under  Major  William  De  Hart,  "as  had  an  honest  zeal 
for  the  service  of  their  country"  and  remained,  were 
thanked  in  a  general  order  by  the  General  for  their 
readiness  in  complying  with  his  request  to  remain  for 
the  defense  and  security  of  the  post  after  their  term  of 
service  had  expired. 

Meanwhile  the  enemy  were  industriously  engaged  in 
making  preparations  to  cross  the  lake,  and  Sir  William 
Howe,  at  New  York,  was  anxiously  waiting  to  hear  from 
them  before  attempting  to  pass  the  forts  in  the  High 
lands  of  the  Hudson.  They  had  repaired  the  road  from 
Isle  aux  Noix  to  Chamblee.  On  the  24th  of  June,  Carle- 
ton  had  held  a  conference  in  the  Church  of  the  Jesuits, 
at  Montreal,  with  the  Caughnawaga  and  St.  Francis  In 
dians,  which  was  attended  by  all  his  general  officers  and 
three  hundred  savages,  and  at  which  an  alliance  was 
formed  with  the  Indians  for  one  year.  These  same  Indi 
ans  came  to  Montreal  no  longer  ago  than  the  7th  of 
June,  and,  after  the  usual  speeches  and  ceremonies,  de 
livered  up  the  hatchet  which  Carleton  had  given  them  in 
the  preceding  year,  to  General  Arnold,  and  promised  to 
be  neutral  in  the  approaching  conflict.  Carleton  compel 
led  the  Canadians  who  had  accepted  commissions  from 
Congress  to  go  through  the  farcical  ceremony  of  burning 
them  in  public,  and  confiscated  the  estates  of  all  those 
who  had  followed  the  American  army.  The  inhabitants 
who  had  sympathized  with  the  cause  of  the  Americans 
were  compelled  by  the  priests  to  do  penance  in  public. 

A  vessel  had  arrived  at  Quebec,  on  the  29th  of  July, 
having  on  board  a  regiment  of  Hesse  Hauau  Artillery, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  157 

numbering  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  on  the  17th 
of  September  the  second  division  of  Brunswick  troops 
arrived  there,  in  five  transports,  consisting  of  the  regi 
ment  of  Infantry  Von  Rhetz,  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Ehrenkrook;  and  a  regiment  of  Brunswick 
riflemen,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Barner. 
Nineteen  men  died  during  the  voyage. 

Of  the  four  thousand  German  troops  who  thus  came  to 
Canada  under  General  Riedesel  in  1776,  only  two  thou 
sand  eight  hundred  returned. 

The  British  army  in  Canada  with  these  reinforcements 
consisted  of  from  twelve  thousand  to  thirteen  thousand 
men. 

On  the  10th  of  September  they  were  put  in  motion 
for  the  advance  up  the  lake,  but  their  progress  was  very 
slow.  On  that  day  Lieutenant-Colonel  Carleton,  a  cousin 
of  the  General,  with  four  hundred  Indians,  in  their  own 
canoes,  moved  up  the  Sorel  river.  On  the  following  day 
seventy-six  men  out  of  each  company  of  the  German 
brigade  embarked.  They  numbered  thirteen  hundred 
officers  and  men,  and  filled  eighty -two  boats.  General 
Fraser  with  his  van  brigade,  composed  of  grenadiers, 
light  infantry,  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  advanced 
up  the  left  bank  of  the  Sorel  and  rested  on  the  river 
Colte,  five  miles  from  the  New  York  line. 

The  grenadiers  of  this  brigade  were  commanded  by 
Major  John  Dyke  Ackland,  of  the  Twentieth  Regiment, 
who  was  accompanied  by  his  accomplished  wife,  Lady 
Harriet  Ackland,  whose  adventurous  journey  into  the 
American  lines  in  the  following  year,  to  attend  her 
husband,  who  had  been  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at 
Saratoga,  has  become  a  familiar  and  romantic  incident 
in  American  history. 


158  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

The  First  Brigade,  under  General  Burgoyne,  consisting 
of  the  Ninth,  Twenty-first,  Thirty-first,  and  Forty-seventh 
British  Regiments,  the  Regiment  Reidesel,  and  the  Hanau 
Regiment  of  the  German  troops,  moved  up  to  Isle  aux 
Noix.  The  Fifty-ninth  Regiment  was  in  the  neighborhood 
of  St.  Theresa.  General  Phillips*  with  that  portion  of 
the  corps  of  artillery  that  was  not  on  board  the  fleet,  the 
Twentieth  and  Sixty-second  Regiments  and  part  of  the 
Twenty-ninth,  were  at  St.  Johns  with  the  remainder  of 
the  German  troops  under  Riedesel.  The  Thirty-fourth 
Regiment  was  near  Chamblee.  One  hundred  and  thirty 
boats,  each  capable  of  carrying  twenty  men,  were  dis 
tributed  among  these  troops,  and  two  covered  boats  were 
furnished  each  general  for  himself  and  staff.  The  sick 
and  heavy  baggage  were  sent  back  to  Montreal,  which 
was  garrisoned  by  Maclean's  Royal  Highland  Emigrants. 

It  was  not  until  the  14th  of  October,  however,  that 

*  WILLIAM  PHILLIPS  entered  the  British  army  as  a  captain  of  artillery  in 
May,  1756.  He  served  with  credit  in  Germany ;  was  brevetted  lieutenant-colonel 
in  1770,  and  was  made  colonel  of  his  regiment  May  25th,  1772.  He  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  corps  of  artillery  sent  to  Canada  in  1776,  and  made  major- 
general  in  June  of  that  year.  He  took  part  in  the  campaign  which  followed, 
and  in  the  expedition  under  Burgoyne  in  1777.  He  commanded  the  left  wing  of 
the  British  army  in  the  action  of  September  19th,  1777,  and  the  centre  in  the 
action  of  October  7th,  1777.  With  General  Riedesel  he  covered  the  retreat  of 
the  main  body  on  that  disastrous  day  for  the  British  arms.  He  was  taken  pris 
oner  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  and  his  portrait  is  conspicuous  in  the  fore 
ground  of  the  painting  of  that  event,  in  the  rotunda  of  the  Capitol  at  Washing 
ton.  He  was  exchanged  in  November,  1779.  In  March,  1781,  he  sailed  from 
New  York  with  two  thousand  troops  for  Portsmouth,  Virginia,  where  he  super 
seded  Benedict  Arnold  in  the  command  of  the  British  forces  at  that  place,  greatly 
to  the  relief  of  the  British  officers,  and  completed  the  fortifications  of  the  town. 
From  this  point  he  marched  through  the  country  adjacent  to  the  James  river, 
destroying  tobacco  warehouses,  vessels,  military  stores,  and  other  valuable  prop 
erty.  Having  accomplished  his  mission  of  desolation,  he  started  in  ill-health 
for  Petersburg,  where  he  expected  to  form  a  junction  with  Lord  Cornwallis.  He 
died  four  days  after  his  arrival  at  that  place,  on  the  13th  of  May,  1781.  lie  was 
haughty  and  irritable,  and  professed  great  contempt  for  the  Americans  and  their 
cause,  but  was  deeply  regretted  by  his  companions  in  arms  as  a  meritorious  and 
well-tried  soldier. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  159 

Generals  Burgoyne  and  Eraser  embarked  their  respect 
ive  corps  in  bateaux  upon  the  open  waters  of  the  lake 
from  Point  au  Fer.  The  Twentieth  and  Sixty-second 
Regiments  were  left  at  Isle  aux  Noix  to  guard  the  sup 
plies  there. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  here  that  these  two  regi 
ments,  though  assigned  in  this  campaign  to  the  compara 
tively  inglorious  duty  of  guarding  the  supplies  in  the  rear, 
bore,  together  with  the  Twenty-first,  the  brunt  of  Arnold's 
furious  assault  upon  the  centre  of  the  British  army  at  the 
battle  of  Freeman's  Farm  (September  19th,  1777),  upon 
which  occasion  more  than  half  their  number  were  slain. 

All  the  German  troops,  except  the  Hanau  Artillery, 
also  remained  in  Canada  as  a  reserve.  The  remainder  of 
the  army  followed  the  fleet  up  the  lake. 

On  Saturday,  the  12th  of  October,  an  express  arrived 
at  Ticonderoga  from  Crown  Point  with  information  that 
heavy  cannonading  had  been  heard  on  the  preceding  day 
down  the  lake,  which  was  supposed  to  be  between  the 
British  and  American  fleets.  All  that  day  and  night  the 
American  army  anxiously  awaited  further  tidings  from 
below.  The  next  morning  the  news  was  confirmed  by 
the  booming  of  the  signal-gun  at  Crown  Point. 

Only  two  days  before,  the  troops  at  Ticonderoga  had 
been  admonished  in  general  orders  that  "the  long  still 
ness  and  seeming  supineness  of  the  enemy  strongly  in 
dicated  that  they  were  meditating  some  stroke  of  import 
ance."  "It  behooves,  therefore,  every  officer  and  soldier 
of  this  army,"  the  order  continued,  "to  be  exceedingly 
vigilant  and  alert,  particularly  when  upon  duty."  It  was 
with  sensations  of  relief  and  readiness  that  the  troops 
welcomed  the  news  that  their  long  state  of  suspense  was 
over. 


160        THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA. 

The  report  of  the  signal-gun  at  Crown  Point  was  soon 
followed  by  the  arrival  of  an  express  boat  with  intelli 
gence  that  a  severe  engagement  had  been  fought  between 
the  two  fleets  on  Friday,  the  llth,  at  Valcour  Island,  in 
which  the  British  had  been  victorious. 

This  discouraging  news  was  shortly  after  followed  by 
incessant  reports  of  heavy  cannonading,  which  lasted 
from  eleven  o'clock  until  three.  The  action  had  evi 
dently  been  renewed  nearer  at  hand. 

In  the  course  of  that  same  Sunday  night,  a  scout  of 
sixty  men,  under  Captain  Thomas  Church,  of  Wayne's 
regiment,  returned  to  Ticonderoga,  bringing  with  them 
the  heavy  baggage  from  Crown  Point,  one  hundred  and 
forty  men  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment  who 
were  sick  with  chills  and  fever,  and  news  of  the  final 
disaster  to  the  American  fleet.  At  four  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  General  Arnold,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hartley, 
with  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  what  was 
left  of  the  fleet,  arrived  at  Ticonderoga.  Arnold  was 
exceedingly  weak  and  unwell,  having  been  without  sleep 
or  nourishment  for  nearly  three  days. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Construction  of  the  British  Fleet — It  Sets  Sail  upon  Lake  Champlain — The 
Naval  Battle  of  October  llth — Skillful  Retreat  of  the  Americans — Viscount 
Exmouth — Escape  of  part  of  the  American  Fleet — The  Naval  Battle  of 
October  13th — Surrender  of  the  Washington — Arnold  Runs  his  Vessels 
Ashore  and  Burns  them — Ambushing  the  Bridle  Path  to  Crown  Point — 
Escape  of  Arnold  and  his  Men  to  Ticonderoga — The  Loss  on  both  sides — 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Thomas  Hartley — Release  of  American  Prisoners — 
Carleton's  motive  for  releasing  them. 

WE  left  Arnold  with  his  fleet  moored  between  Valcour 
Island  and  the  western  shore  of  the  lake,  awaiting  the 
approach  of  the  enemy.  He  had  arrested,  while  there,  a 
number  of  disaffected  persons  residing  along  the  shores 
of  the  lake,  whom  he  suspected  of  giving  information 
and  comfort  to  the  enemy,  and  sent  them  under  guard 
to  Ticonderoga. 

The  British  had  been  constantly  engaged  ever  since 
the  beginning  of  July  in  constructing  and  fitting  out  a 
fleet  to  control  Lake  Champlain  and  carry  their  army 
over  the  lake,  during  which  time,  wrote  Captain  Douglas 
of  the  Isis,  they  had  performed  "prodigies  of  labor  almost 
exceeding  belief."  Ship-wrights  had  been  constantly 
busy  at  Montreal,  Chamblee,  and  St.  Johns  in  construct 
ing  vessels  and  bateaux.  All  soldiers  who  were  carpen 
ters  had  been  sent  to  Chamblee,  Sorel,  and  St.  Johns  to 
work  on  the  vessels,  and  were  allowed  a  shilling  extra 
per  diem  while  so  engaged.  On  the  7th  of  July  the 
English  frigate  Jailer  arrived  at  Quebec  with  ten  gun 
boats,  so  constructed  that  they  could  be  taken  apart  and 

(161) 


162  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

transported  overland  to  the  lakes.  Thirty  long  boats,  a 
number  of  flat-bottomed  craft,  a  gondola  weighing  about 
thirty  tons,  and  over  four  hundred  bateaux  were  trans 
ported  overland  or  dragged  up  the  rapids  of  St.  Therese 
and  St.  Johns. 

Sir  Guy  Carleton  had  expected  to  be  able  to  embark 
upon  the  lake  by  the  middle  of  September,  but  receiving 
information  of  the  formidable  armament  of  the  Ameri 
cans  already  there,  he  determined  to  make  additional 
preparation  before  attempting  the  expedition ;  accord 
ingly,  a  three-masted  ship  called  the  Inflexible,  and  two 
schooners,  the  Maria  and  Carleton,  were  taken  to  pieces, 
carried  up  to  St.  Johns,  and  reconstructed  there.  An 
attempt  had  been  made  to  drag  these  vessels  around  the 
rapids  of  Chamblee  on  rollers,  but  the  attempt  failed, 
and  they  were  obliged  to  take  them  apart  after  they  had 
been  landed.  These  additional  preparations  delayed  the 
movement  of  the  British  until  October.  The  keel  of 
the  Inflexible  was  laid  September  6th,  three  days  after 
Arnold  had  anchored  his  fleet  at  Windmill  Point.  She 
was  completed  in  twenty-eight  days  thereafter.  It  was 
necessary,  however,  to  run  her  into  deeper  water  below 
the  Isle  aux  Noix  before  she  could  receive  her  armament 
of  18  twelve-pounders.  All  preparations  being  thus  com 
pleted,  the  fleet  set  sail  on  the  4th  of  October,  consist 
ing  of  the  ship  Inflexible,  Lieutenant  Schank ;  schooner 
Maria, Lieutenant  Starke,14  brass  six-pounders;  schooner 
Carleton,  Lieutenant  Dacres,  12  brass  six-pounders ;  the 
Radeau  Thunderer  (a  floating  battery  with  two  masts), 
Lieutenant  Scott,  carrying  6  twenty-four  and  6  twelve- 
pounders,  and  2  howitzers ;  the  gondola  Loyal  Convert, 
Lieutenant  Longcroft,  7  nine-pounders.  This  gondola 
had  been  taken  by  the  British  after  the  siege  of  Que- 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  163 

bee  was  raised.  Twenty  gunboats  (ten  of  which  had 
arrived  from  England),  each  carrying  a  brass  field-piece, 
varying  in  calibre  from  9  to  24  pounders,  manned  by 
men  from  the  corps  of  Royal  and  Hanau  artillery.  Some 
of  them  also  carried  howitzers.  In  addition  to  these, 
there  were  four  long  boats,  as  armed  tenders,  carrying 
one  field-piece  each,  mounted  upon  a  gun-carriage,  and 
also  manned  by  the  Royal  Artillerists.  Each  of  the  ves 
sels,  Inflexible,  Carleton,  Maria,  and  Thunderer,  had  on 
board  a  company  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  detailed 
for  service  as  marines.  Half  a  company  from  the  same 
regiment  was  also  assigned  to  the  Loyal  Convert. 

The  British  fleet  thus  constituted  comprised  twenty- 
nine  sail,  carrying  eighty-nine  guns,  mostly  of  large  cali 
bre,  and  manned  by  six  hundred  and  seventy  experienced 
seamen  detached  from  the  British  transports  in  the  St. 
Lawrence,  two  hundred  and  twenty-three  of  whom  had 
volunteered  for  the  service.  In  addition  to  this  there 
wrere  twenty-four  long  boats  carrying  provisions.  The 
whole  under  command  of  Captain  Thomas  Pringle  of  the 
armed  ship  Lord  Howe,  who  had  his  quarters  on  board 
the  schooner  Maria.  According  to  a  British  historian, 
"no  equipment  of  the  kind  was  ever  better  appointed 
or  more  amply  furnished  with  every  kind  of  provision 
necessary  for  the  intended  service." 

Proceeding  cautiously,  the  British  fleet  came  to  anchor 
below  Isle  la  Motte,  where  it  remained  until  the  9th,  and 
Carleton  sent  out  reconnoitering  parties  to  discover  the 
whereabouts  of  the  American  fleet.  Having  received  a 
report  from  one  of  these  parties  that  they  could  discover 
no  traces  of  the  American  fleet,  they  proceeded  further 
and  still  with  great  caution  up  the  lake.  On  the  10th, 
another  reconnoitering  boat  reported  to  Carleton  that  the 


164  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

American  fleet  had  been  seen  near  Grand  Island.  He 
accordingly  set  sail  and  in  the  evening  again  cast  anchor 
between  Long  and  Grand  Islands,  within  fifteen  miles  of 
the  anchorage  of  the  American  fleet. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  the  llth  of  October, 
he  again  set  sail  in  pursuit  of  the  Americans,  and  a  gun 
from  the  American  alarm-boat  soon  announced  to  them 
that  the  British  fleet  was  in  sight.  Shortly  thereafter, 
under  full  sail,  and  before  a  fair  wind  from  the  north 
west,  the  British  fleet  swept  round  Cumberland  Head  (a 
promontory  projecting  out  beyond  Valcour  Island,  four 
miles  to  the  north) .  They  passed  the  southern  end  of 
Valcour  Island  before  they  discovered  Arnold's  fleet,  for 
it  was  so  concealed  by  the  Island  that  it  could  not  be 
seen  by  vessels  ascending  the  lake.  The  British  fleet 
was  then  in  mid-channel  nearly  two  miles  to  the  south 
east  of  Valcour  Island — the  lake  at  this  point  being 
nearly  thirteen  miles  wide.  Arnold,  upon  discovering 
the  first  of  the  enemy's  fleet,  immediately  ordered  the 
Royal  Savage,  and  the  galleys  Congress,  Washington, 
and  Trumbull,  out  into  the  stream  to  commence  the 
attack,  but  when  he  had  proceeded  far  enough  to  obtain 
a  view  of  the  lake,  and  discovered  the  force  of  the 
enemy  to  be  nearly  double  his  own,  he  made  signal  from 
the  Congress  to  the  other  vessels  to  regain  the  line  be 
hind  the  island.  To  do  this  it  was  necessary  to  beat  up 
against  the  wind.  The  enemy  tried,  by  hauling  close  to 
the  wind,  to  follow  them,  but  they  were  unable  to  do  so 
with  their  large  vessels.  The  flagship  Inflexible,  the 
schooner  Maria,  and  the  Thunderer  came  to  anchor  there 
fore  out  in  the  lake.  The  morning  was  consumed  in 
getting  the  vessels  in  position.  At  eleven  o'clock  the 
schooner  Carleton  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  the  Royal 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  165 

Savage  and  the  three  galleys,  which  was  returned  with 
spirit.  The  Royal  Savage,  in  endeavoring  to  beat  up 
against  the  wind  in  the  narrow  channel,  was  stranded 
on  the  island.  One  of  her  masts  was  injured,  and  her 
rigging  shot  away.  Her  crew  escaped  and  the  enemy 
boarded  her  and  burned  her  that  night.  Arnold  had  not 
moved  his  effects  from  the  Royal  Savage,  and  all  his 
papers  and  most  of  his  clothing  were  destroyed  on  board 
of  her.  Half  an  hour  later  the  Caiieton,  with  the  twenty 
gunboats,  succeeded  in  forming  a  line  three  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  distant  from  Arnold's  line  to  the  southward, 
and  by  noon  the  action  began  in  earnest.  A  body  of 
Indians  and  Canadians  under  Captain  Fraser  had  ad 
vanced  up  the  west  shore  of  the  lake.  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Caiieton  with  his  body  of  four  hundred  Indians  also 
came  up  the  lake  in  their  canoes  and  landed  on  Valcour 
Island.  These  bodies  of  Indians  harassed  the  flanks  of 
the  Americans  with  their  rifles,  and  added  additional 
horror  to  the  scene  by  their  unearthly  whoops  and  yells. 
The  galleys  were  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight.  The  Ameri 
cans  fought  with  great  courage  and  desperation.  The 
British  movements  were  directed  by  Captain  Thomas 
Pringle  from  on  board  the  Maria,  under  the  supervision 
of  Sir  Gruy  Carleton,  who  was  also  on  board  the  Maria. 
The  Congress  and  Washington  suffered  greatly.  The 
latter  lost  her  first  lieutenant  and  three  others  killed, 
her  captain,  master,  and  several  others  wounded.  She 
was  hulled  a  number  of  times,  her  sails  were  torn  to  tat 
ters,  and  she  received  a  shot  through  her  mainmast, 
The  Congress  was  hulled  twelve  times,  and  received 
shots  between  wind  and  water.  Her  mainmast  was  struck 
in  two  places,  and  her  yard  in  one.  Arnold  fought  with 
his  characteristic  bravery — pointing  many  of  the  guns 


166  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

on  the  Congress  with  his  own  hands.  The  gondola  New 
York  lost  all  her  officers  except  the  captain.  The  Phila 
delphia  was  hulled  in  so  many  places  that  she  sunk  about 
an  hour  after  the  engagement  was  over.  The  whole  num 
ber  of  Americans  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  about 
sixty.  Many  of  the  enemy's  guns  which  did  this  dis 
astrous  work  were  twenty-four  pounders.  The  enemy 
also  embarked  a  number  of  men  in  bateaux  to  board  the 
vessels,  if  possible,  and  to  intercept  the  Americans  in 
case  they  should  attempt  to  escape  by  land.  The  enemy 
also  suffered  greatly.  One  of  the  British  gunboats  hav 
ing  on  board  the  Hesse  Hanau  Artillery,  under  command 
of  Lieutenant  Fay,  was  sunk,  and  two  of  the  crew 
drowned.  The  remainder  were  saved.  The  Carleton 
suffered  severely.  The  British  continued  to  pour  in  a 
very  heavy  fire  of  round  and  grape  shot  until  five  o'clock, 
when,  finding  the  contest  unequal  without  the  use  of  their 
large  vessels,  they  fell  back  to  the  distance  of  six  or 
seven  hundred  yards,  where  they  came  to  anchor,  with 
the  design  of  cutting  off  the  American  retreat  and  wait 
ing  for  a  more  favorable  wind  which  would  enable  them 
to  bring  their  large  vessels  into  action.  At  this  distance 
the  fire  was  continued  until  darkness  compelled  both 
combatants  to  desist. 

The  wind  abated  after  sunset  but  still  blew  gently 
from  the  north-west.  The  ammunition  of  the  Americans 
was  about  three-fourths  exhausted.  They  had  more  than 
held  their  own  against  heavy  odds,  but  this  could  not  be 
continued  in  their  crippled  condition  against  the  heavy 
reserve  the  British  had  in  their  large  vessels.  Arnold 
held  a  council  of  war  on  board  the  Congress,  and  being 
satisfied  that  further  resistance  to  the  overwhelmingly 
superior  force  of  the  enemy  was  hopeless,  a  retreat  was 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  167 

determined  upon.  The  night  was  dark  and  foggy.  Lan 
terns  were  placed  below  the  sterns  of  the  vessels  so 
screened  as  to  make  them  invisible,  except  to  those  di 
rectly  in  the  wake.  At  seven  o'clock  Colonel  Wiggles- 
worth,  in  the  Trumbull,  took  the  lead,  the  other  vessels 
followed  at  the  distance  of  two  hundred  to  three  hundred 
yards  apart,  and  the  Congress  and  Washington  brought 
up  the  rear.  The  whole  fleet  thus  sailed  noiselessly  up 
the  lake  through  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  and  made  their 
escape  without  being  discovered. 

About  eight  o'clock  the  next  morning  the  fog  lifted, 
and  the  enemy,  amazed  and  chagrined  to  find  the  Ameri 
can  fleet  gone,  made  hasty  preparations  to  follow  them. 
Carleton,  in  the  surprise  and  confusion,  having  neglected 
to  give  orders  for  the  advance  of  the  army.  Arnold  and 
Waterbury,  with  the  Congress  and  Washington  and  two 
gondolas,  were  then  at  Schuyler's  Island,  about  ten  miles 
up  the  lake,  where  they  were  obliged  to  stop  to  repair 
leaks  and  mend  their  sails.  The  remainder  of  the  fleet 
had  proceeded  up  the  lake.  The  two  gondolas  were 
abandoned  and  sunk  at  Schuyler's  Island,  being  past 
remedy,  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  Saturday, 
the  12th,  the  Congress  and  Washington  weighed  anchor 
and  endeavored  to  make  way  up  the  lake  against  a  fresh 
breeze  from  the  south-west. 

The  Trumbull  and  smaller  boats  were  then  five  or  six 
miles  ahead,  making  fair  progress  under  the  western  shore, 
and  Arnold  signaled  them  to  ply  their  oars  and  make 
their  way  to  Crown  Point  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The 
schooner  Liberty  had  been  sent  back  from  Valcour  Island 
to  Crown  Point  for  provisions  on  the  10th  of  October, 
and  was  not  in  the  action. 

Edward  Pellew,  afterwards  Viscount  Exmouth,  then 


168  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

a  young  man  under  twenty,  was  an  officer  on  board  the 
British  fleet  in  this  engagement,  and  distinguished  him 
self  by  his  gallantry. 

In  the  evening  the  wind  moderated,  and  the  American 
vessels  made  such  progress  that  by  six  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  Sunday,  the  13th,  the  last  of  them  was  off 
Willsborough,  twenty-eight  miles  below  Crown  Point. 
The  fog  was  then  so  dense  that  it  was  impossible  to  see 
the  length  of  a  vessel,  but  when  it  cleared  oif,  an  hour 
or  two  later,  the  enemy's  squadron  was  discovered  a  little 
above  Schuyler's  Island.  A  fresh  breeze  had  sprung  up 
from  the  north-west  which  brought  the  enemy  up  to 
within  five  miles  of  the  Americans  before  they  felt  its 
influence.  Before  eleven  o'clock  the  Maria,  having  the 
Carleton  and  Inflexible  a  short  distance  astern,  was  with 
in  range  of  the  nine  and  twelve  pounders  in  the  stern  of 
the  Congress  and  Washington,  from  which  a  fire  was 
opened  upon  them.  The  Thunderer,  Loyal  Convert,  and 
the  other  vessels  of  the  British  fleet  had  been  unable  to 
keep  up  with  the  Maria,  Carleton,  and  Inflexible,  and 
therefore  took  no  part  in  this  second  engagement.  By 
the  time  the  American  vessels  had  reached  Split  Rock, 
the  enemy  were  alongside  of  them.  The  remainder  of 
the  American  fleet,  with  the  exception  of  the  galley  Lee, 
which  was  run  aground  and  abandoned  by  her  crew,  on 
the  13th,  were  then  nearing  Crown  Point.  Terrific 
broadsides  of  round  and  grape  shot  were  poured  into 
the  Congress,  Washington,  and  the  four  galleys  from  the 
British  vessels.  The  Washington  galley  was  in  such  a 
shattered  condition,  and  had  lost  so  many  of  her  men  in 
killed  and  wounded,  that  she  was  obliged  to  strike  her 
flag  after  receiving  several  broadsides.  General  Water- 
bury  and  the  crew  were  taken  prisoners.  This  vessel 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  109 

was  subsequently  used  by  the  British  as  a  transport  for 
supplies  between  Isle  aux  Noix  and  Crown  Point.  The 
three  British  vessels  then  concentrated  their  fire  upon 
the  Congress,  two  under  her  stern  and  one  on  her  broad 
side.  Within  musket-shot  they  continued  to  pour  into 
her  an  incessant  fire  of  round  and  grape  shot,  shattering 
her  sails,  rigging,  and  hull.  The  first  lieutenant  and 
three  of  her  crew  were  killed.  Arnold  returned  their 
fire  briskly,  but  all  further  resistance  was  hopeless.  De 
siring  to  prevent  further  sacrifice  of  life  he  determined 
to  run  his  vessels  ashore,  and  keep  them,  if  possible,  out 
of  the  enemy's  hands.  He  ordered  the  four  gondolas  to 
precede  him,  and  followed  them  himself  in  the  Congress. 
It  was  then  nearly  three  o'clock.  They  succeeded  in 
reaching  Button  Mould  Bay,  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake 
a  short  distance  above  the  mouth  of  Otter  Creek.  Here 
they  set  fire  to  their  vessels  with  their  flags  flying  at  the 
mast-head.  Arnold  was  the  last  man  to  land.  The 
crews  were  drawn  up  on  the  shore  above  the  burning 
vessels  to  protect  their  flags  until  they  should  be  con 
sumed.  The  enemy  did  not  venture  into  the  bay,  but 
kept  up  a  constant  cannonade  from  a  distance.  They 
landed  their  Indians,  however,  to  ambush  the  road  and 
cut  off  Arnold's  retreat.  The  British  afterwards  sent  part 
of  their  garrison  from  Crown  Point  to  raise  the  cannon 
and  war  material  from  these  sunken  vessels.  The  crew 
of  the  Congress,  when  the  first  action  commenced  on 
the  llth,  amounted  to  seventy-three  men,  there  now  re 
mained  but  forty-six — all  the  rest  having  been  killed 
or  wounded. 

Having  heroically  preserved  their  colors  and  their 
ships  from  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  in  the  midst  of  over 
whelming  disaster,  Arnold,  with  his  two  hundred  gallant 


170  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

men,  set  off  by  a  bridle  path  through  the  woods  for  Crown 
Point,  ten  miles  distant,  and  narrowly  escaped  the  ene 
my's  Indians  who  ambushed  the  path  two  hours  later. 
It  was  after  dark  when  they  arrived  opposite  Crown 
Point,  at  a  place  called  Chimney  Point,  from  the  bare 
chimneys  which  stood  there  for  many  years  after  the 
French  had  burned  the  settlement  on  their  retreat  in 
1759.  The  Trumbull,  Revenge,  Liberty,  Enterprise,  and 
a  gondola,  comprising  the  sole  remnant  of  the  American 
fleet,  were  then  at  anchor  there,  where  the  lake  is  less 
than  three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide.  On  these  vessels 
they  crossed  to  Crown  Point. 

The  whole  loss  of  the  Americans  in  these  two  actions 
was  about  eighty  men,  a  very  large  proportion  of  whom 
were  lost  on  board  the  Congress.  The  loss  of  the  British 
was  about  half  that  number,  eight  of  whom  were  killed 
and  six  wounded  on  board  the  Carleton.  The  rest  were 
chiefly  from  among  the  artillerists  in  the  gunboats,  dur 
ing  the  first  day's  engagement.  General  Carleton  received 
a  slight  wound  in  the  head  from  a  splinter.  The  Ameri 
can  wounded  were  sent  to  Ticonderoga,  and  from  there 
to  the  hospital  at  Fort  George. 

It  was  utterly  useless  for  this  little  band  of  disheart 
ened  men  to  attempt  to  make  a  stand  at  Crown  Point, 
where  Lieutenant- Colonel  Hartley*  had  thrown  up  a 

*  THOMAS  PIABTLEY  was  born  at  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  September  7th,  1748, 
from  which  place  he  removed  to  York,  where  he  practiced  law.  He  was  a  mem 
ber  from  York  county  of  the  Provincial  Conventions  which  met  at  Philadelphia, 
July  15th,  1774,  and  January  23d,  1775.  He  was  commissioned  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment  in  the  Continental  Army,  January 
9th,  1776,  and  commanded  the  regiment  after  Colonel  Irvine  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  battle  of  Three  Rivers.  He  commanded  an  expedition  to  the  Valley  of 
Wyoming  in  1778  after  the  massacre,  and  received  the  unanimous  thanks  of  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council  for  his  brave  and  prudent  conduct  in  conducting  it 
to  a  successful  issue.  He  resigned  his  commission  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  in  1778,  and  one  of  the  Council  of  Censors  in  1783. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  171 

few  earthworks,  capable  of  covering  frorn  one  thousand 
to  fifteen  hundred  men,  late  in  August,  and  had  mounted 
on  them  six  French  cannon  which  he  had  found  in  the 
woods.  They  therefore  set  fire  to  all  buildings  and 
houses  in  and  near  the  place,  including  the  saw-mill 
which  had  furnished  some  boards  for  the  fleet,  and 
Arnold  with  his  party,  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  and  what  remained  of  the  fleet,  as  we  have  seen, 
retreated  to  Ticonderoga. 

On  the  evening  of  the  14th,  a  number  of  the  enemy's 
row-boats,  commanded  by  Captain  Craig  of  the  Forty- 
seventh  Regiment  of  Infantry  (afterwards  Sir  James  H. 
Craig,  Governor  of  Canada,  and  the  same  man  who,  as 
such,  thirty-two  years  later,  set  on  foot  an  intrigue,  with 
the  sanction  of  the  British  Government,  for  the  separa 
tion  of  the  Eastern  States  from  the  Union,  and  a  return 
by  them  to  their  old  allegiance  to  the  Crown) ,  arrived  at 
the  American  advance  boat  under  a  flag  of  truce.  They 
brought  General  Waterbury  and  the  crew  of  the  Wash 
ington,  a  hundred  and  ten  in  number,  who  had  been  re 
leased  by  General  Carleton  upon  their  parole.  They 
were  so  warm  in  their  praises  of  Carleton,  for  the  kind 
ness  and  generosity  with  which  he  had  treated  them, 
that  it  was  thought  prudent  to  prevent  them  from  having 
intercourse  with  the  garrison,  and  they  were  sent  to 
Skenesborough  the  same  night  on  their  way  to  their 
homes. 

It  was  surmised,  whether  with  justice  to  the  motives 
of  that  humane  officer  (admittedly  the  ablest  on  the 


He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  of  Pennsylvania  which  ratified  the  Consti 
tution  of  the  United  States,  December  12th,  1787,  and  a  member  of  Congress 
from  the  organization  of  the  Government  in  1789  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  York,  Pennsylvania,  December  21st,  1800. 


172        THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA. 

British  side  during  the  war)  or  not,  it  is  difficult  to  say, 
that  Carleton  had  lavished  his  kindness  on  these  ragged 
American  prisoners,  and  then  set  them  free,  with  the  in 
tent  that  they  should  spread  their  good  reports  of  him 
and  the  king's  army  among  their  suffering  brethren, 
thereby  acting  as  his  unconscious  emissaries  in  sowing 
the  seeds  of  discontent  with  their  cause  among  their 
comrades,  and  softening  their  animosities  toward  the 
crown. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Occupation  of  Crown  Point  by  the  British  Army — An  Attack  on  Ticonderoga 
expected — It  is  delayed  by  unfavorable  winds — The  Americans  improve  the 
time  by  preparing  for  it — New  Post  established  on  Mount  Hope — Construc 
tion  of  a  Boom  across  the  Lake — Cutting  doAvn  the  trees  on  the  Crown  Point 
Road — Wet  and  stormy  weather — Precautions  against  surprise — Construc 
tion  of  a  Floating  Bridge  between  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence — 
Provisions  for  the  Wounded — Scouting  Parties — Gates  calls  for  Ten  to  Fif 
teen  Thousand  Militia — The  Lower  Country  alive  with  the  movements  of 
armed  Men — Arrival  of  New  England  Militia  at  Ticonderoga — Scarcity  of 
Provisions — Washington's  opinion  of  Militia — Promotion  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Irvine,  Major  Morris,  Captain  Jonathan  Jones,  and  Captain  Grier — 
Advance  of  General  Fraser's  Division  to  Putnam's  Point  under  the  Guns  of 
the  British  Fleet— General  Simon  Fraser — An  Attack  hourly  expected — 
Richard  Stockton  and  George  Clymer — Their  comments  on  the  sufferings  of 
the  Troops. 

ON  the  14th  of  October,  the  British  fleet  anchored  off 
Crown  Point.  Three  vessels,  including  the  schooner 
Maria  (on  board  of  which  Sir  Guy  Carle  ton  had  his 
quarters),  and  a  number  of  flat-bottomed  boats,  remained 
there.  The  other  vessels  went  back  for  stores,  cannon, 
and  to  bring  up  the  army.  In  a  few  days  thereafter  the 
British  army  occupied  Crown  Point,  and  Chimney  Point 
opposite,  where  they  were  joined  by  a  band  of  Xew  York 
tories.  From  this  time  forward  an  attack  upon  Ticonde 
roga  was  expected,  first  daily,  and  then  hourly.  It  was 
likely  to  be  a  desperate  struggle,  but  the  Americans  were 
hopeful  of  the  result.  In  anticipation  of  it,  Gates  issued 
an  address  to  the  troops.  "As  the  enemy's  attack  will 
most  probably  be  rash  and  sudden,"  he  wrote,  "the  Gen- 

(173) 


174  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

eral  earnestly  recommends  to  every  commanding  officer 
of  a  regiment,  party,  post,  or  detachment,  to  be  deliber 
ate  and  cool  in  suffering  his  men  to  fire,  never  allowing 
them  to  throw  away  their  shot  in  a  random,  unsoldier- 
like  manner.  One  close  well-directed  fire,  at  the  distance 
of  eight  or  ten  rods,  will  do  more  towards  defeating 
the  enemy,  than  all  the  scattered,  random  shot,  fired 
in  a  whole  day.  The  commanding  officers  of  artillery 
will  give  proper  directions  in  this  respect  to  all  under 
their  command.  The  good  effects  of  a  due  observance 
of  this  order  will,  with  the  favor  of  Heaven,  secure  the 
victory." 

The  troops  were  ready,  and  waited  impatiently  for  the 
attack.  Arnold  sent  his  public  and  private  papers  with 
a  considerable  sum  of  hard  and  paper  money  to  General 
Schuyler  for  safe  keeping.  Fourteen  birch  canoes  loaded 
with  Indians  came  up  the  lake  to  within  five  miles  of 
Ticonderoga,  but  the  wind  blew  hard  fron  the  south,  and 
no  further  tidings  of  the  enemy  were  received.  They 
would  not  come  without  their  fleet,  and  the  fleet  could 
not  ascend  this  narrow  stretch  of  the  lake,  until  the  wind 
should  shift  to  a  more  favorable  quarter.  Upon  the  vari 
ableness  of  the  wind  the  probabilities  of  an  attack  for  a 
time  depended.  The  Americans  availed  themselves  of 
the  delay  in  preparing  for  it.  Gun-carriages  were  con 
structed  and  guns  mounted.  The  lines  and  redoubts 
of  the  brigade  of  Massachusetts  militia,  under  General 
Brickett,  were  in  a  very  incomplete  state.  There  were 
not  sufficient  entrenching  tools  to  employ  all  the  militia 
who  were  off  duty  upon  them.  So  they  were  divided 
into  three  parties  who  relieved  each  other  throughout  the 
day.  Arnold  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  all  the 
troops  and  redoubts  on  the  flat  ground  north  of  the  old 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  175 

fort,  including  the  stone  redoubt  on  the  eastern  point, 
and  the  vessels  which  guarded  the  boom. 

The  Pennsylvania  brigade  in  the  French  lines  occupied 
the  left  of  the  position,  and  to  guard  against  every  possi 
bility  of  its  being  turned,  a  post  was  established  upon  an 
eminence  half  a  mile  in  their  front,  which  was  significantly 
called  Mount  Hope.  It  was  expected  that  the  weight  of 
the  assault  would  fall  upon  the  French  lines,  and  conse 
quently  the  Americans  had  prepared  to  receive  it  there. 
It  was  not  at  all  probable  that  Mount  Independence 
would  be  attacked,  as  the  open  state  of  the  country  be 
low  it,  and  its  great  natural  strength,  made  it  almost  im 
pregnable.  Measures  were  taken  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  advancing  higher  up  the  lake  than  the  American 
outposts.  On  the  24th  of  October,  a  boom  of  heavy  logs 
chained  together  was  thrown  across  the  lake  nearly 
opposite  the  Jersey  redoubt.  The  two  galleys  were  an 
chored  in  the  channel,  and  by  a  concerted  fire  from  these, 
the  Jersey  redoubt,  and  the  batteries  on  Mount  Independ 
ence,  it  was  confidently  expected  that  any  attempt  of 
the  enemy  to  reach  the  rear  of  the  American  works  by 
ascending  the  lake  could  be  successfully  repulsed.  No 
alternative  would  thus  be  left  them  but  to  land  on  the 
west  side  of  the  lake  below  the  American  outposts,  and 
assault  the  American  position  at  the  French  lines,  where 
they  were  prepared  to  receive  it.  To  further  embarrass 
the  enemy  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  men  from  the 
Continental  regiments  of  Brewer  and  Willard  was  sent 
out  to  cut  down  the  trees  across  the  Crown  Point  road. 
Officers  and  men  on  both  sides  of  the  lake  were  ordered 
to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  reinforce  any  point 
where  their  services  should  be  most  needed.  The  wea 
ther  continued  so  wet  and  stormy,  that  half  a  gill  of  rum 


176  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

was  issued  to  every  non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier, 
morning  and  evening.  Casks  filled  with  water,  and  a 
supply  of  rum  were  kept  constantly  at  the  alarm  posts, 
and  every  precaution  was  taken  against  surprise.  Each 
man  was  kept  constantly  supplied  with  two  days  provi 
sions  ready  cooked,  and  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  buck 
shot,  which  was  all  their  limited  supply  could  afford,  and 
therefore  all  spears  that  could  be  spared  from  the  vessels 
were  distributed  in  the  French  lines  and  redoubts  for 
use  in  a  hand  to  hand  encounter,  in  case  the  ammunition 
should  give  out.  Every  morning  before  day,  the  troops 
repaired  to  their  alarm  posts,  where  the  Continental 
colors  were  advantageously  displayed  on  the  ramparts, 
and  the  cannon  and  spears  kept  in  readiness  for  imme 
diate  action.  General  St.  Clair's  brigade  was  reinforced 
by  the  addition  of  Colonel  Maxwell's  Second  New  Jersey 
Regiment,  which  was  detached  from  the  second  brigade 
on  Mount  Independence  for  that  purpose.  On  October 
25th,  a  floating  bridge  was  built  across  the  lake  between 
Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence  to  facilitate  the 
communication  between  those  posts.  It  was  at  this  crit 
ical  juncture  that  the  supply  of  ammunition  was  received 
from  Congress,  six  tons  of  powder,  and  a  large  quantity 
of  lead  and  other  ammunition.  For  some  days  prior 
thereto  there  were  not  two  tons  of  powder  in  camp. 
"Carleton  keeps  very  close  at  Crown  Point,  his  navy  at 
anchor  on  his  flanks,"  wrote  Gates  to  Schuyler  on  the 
24th.  "I  have  scouts  constantly  down  both  sides  of  the 
lake.  I  apprehend  by  this  time  his  force  is  all  collected, 
and  expect  this  stillness  will  be  succeeded  immediately 
by  a  grand  attack.  Heaven  grant  he  may  be  defeated  ! 
The  army  here  are  in  good  spirits  and  think  only  of  vic 
tory."  The  scouts  from  below  reported  the  enemy  to  be 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  177 

in  great  force  and  in  great  activity,  but  as  yet  they  had 
not  interfered  with  the  American  communications  on 
either  side  of  the  lake,  though  bands  of  their  Indians 
came  near  enough  to  drive  off  a  number  of  cattle. 

It  was  ordered  that  in  case  of  action,  Surgeons  Ken 
nedy,  Barnet,  Taylor,  Thacher,  Silsby,  and  Packer,  with 
their  assistants,  were  to  be  in  attendance  at  the  old  fort. 
Surgeons  Johnston,  Holmes,  Alison,  Harvey,  and  Stewart, 
with  their  assistants  and  all  their  instruments  were  to  at 
tend  near  Colonel  Wayne's  marquee,  in  the  French  lines. 
Guards  were  also  placed  over  the  bateaux  which  were 
kept  constantly  lying  in  the  cove  below  the  carpenter 
shop  to  carry  the  wounded,  as  soon  as  their  wounds  could 
be  dressed,  to  the  general  hospital  on  Mount  Independ 
ence,  which  was  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts 
and  all  the  surgeons  and  surgeon's-mates  on  Mount  In 
dependence. 

No  less  than  eleven  scouting  parties  were  thrown  out 
through  the  wilderness  outlying  between  Ticonderoga 
and  Fort  Stanwix  on  the  Mohawk,  and  also  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  Hudson,  to  obtain  early  information  of  any 
movements  the  enemy  might  make  in  that  direction. 

The  wind  continued  to  blow  steadily  from  the  south 
for  a  fortnight,  during  which  time  General  Brickett's  Mas 
sachusetts  brigade  succeeded  in  covering  themselves,  in 
repairing  the  five  old  French  redoubts  in  the  low  lands, 
and  mounting  four  or  five  guns  upon  each  of  them. 

Generals  Gates,  Arnold,  and  St.  Clair  accompanied 
their  reports  of  the  destruction  of  the  fleet  with  an 
urgent  call  for  ten  thousand  to  fifteen  thousand  militia. 
When  General  Schuyler  received  their  communications, 
he,  sharing  the  common  belief  that  an  attack  by  the  vic 
torious  British  army  upon  the  garrison  of  Ticonderoga 


178  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

was  imminent,  wrote  for  aid  to  the  New  York  Committee 
which  was  then  in  session  at  Fishkill,  and  the  committee 
responded  by  calling  out  all  the  militia  from.  Try  on,  Char 
lotte,  Cumberland,  Gloucester,  and  Albany  counties,  and 
appointed  a  sub-committee  of  their  body  to  repair  to  Al 
bany  and  represent  them  in  any  emergency  which  might 
arise. 

The  Bennington  committee,  aided  by  Colonel  Seth 
Warner,  were  also  very  zealous  in  stirring  up  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys  and  the  yeomanry  of  the  New  Hampshire 
grants,  and  sending  them  forward  to  Ticonderoga. 

General  Schuyler  also  ordered  General  Petrus  Ten 
Broeck  to  march  up  the  New  York  militia  under  his 
command.  He  also  ordered  the  militia  from  Fort  Ed 
ward  into  Tryon  county,  to  relieve  Colonel  Dayton's 
Third  New  Jersey  regiment,  and  sent  an  express  to  that 
officer  at  Fort  Schuyler,  to  hasten  his  march  to  reinforce 
the  army  at  Ticonderoga.  He  marched  at  once,  and 
reached  Saratoga  on  the  28th.  Here  he  was  detained 
by  one  of  those  constantly  recurring  rumors  that  the 
tories  of  Tryon  county  had  gone  to  join  Sir  John  John 
son,  who  was  about  to  invade  that  country.  He  contin 
ued  his  march  to  Ticonderoga,  after  a  short  delay,  and 
arrived  there  early  in  November.  His  regiment  occupied 
the  old  fort,  from  which  all  the  sick  had  been  removed 
for  their  accommodation.  Among  the  captains  of  Day 
ton's  regiment  was  Joseph  Bloomfield,  afterwards  mem 
ber  of  Congress  and  Governor  of  New  Jersey. 

The  militia  from  New  England  were  directed  to  march 
over  the  Green  mountains  to  Skenesborough.  Those  from 
Albany  county  were  distributed  by  General  Schuyler  at 
Fort  Miller,  Fort  Edward,  Fort  George,  and  such  other 
posts  as  would  be  likely  to  secure  the  communications 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  179 

with  Ticonderoga.  Thus  the  lower  country  was  soon 
alive  with  the  movements  of  armed  men.  The  New 
England  militia  moved  with  alacrity.  Eight  regiments 
of  them  reached  Ticonderoga  under  Colonels  Robinson, 
one  hundred  and  six  men ;  Brownson,  sixty-seven  men ; 
Hale,  twenty-four  men ;  Ashley,  one  hundred  and  seven 
men ;  Bellows,  sixty-four  men ;  Chase,  fifty-four  men ; 
Robinson,  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  men;  and  Hyde, 
two  hundred  and  seventy-four  men.  The  whole  eight 
regiments  only  aggregated  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  men,  and  more  than  one  of  them  had  half  as  many 
officers  as  privates  in  the  ranks. 

The  New  York  militia  moved  up  slowly  and  very  re 
luctantly.  Many  of  them  positively  refused  to  march  to 
Ticonderoga,  and  they  began  to  desert  in  large  numbers. 

Apprehensions  began  to  spring  up  at  this  time  that 
Ticonderoga  was  not  sufficiently  well  stored  with  provi 
sions  to  stand  the  siege  which  it  might  be  called  upon  to 
undergo.  The  supply  of  flour  on  hand  did  not  exceed 
one  thousand  barrels,  which  was  barely  enough  for  six 
teen  days.  The  beef,  including  that  which  was  being 
driven  up,  was  only  sufficient  to  last  until  the  1st  of  No 
vember,  and  the  mouths  to  be  fed  were  daily  increasing 
in  number. 

This  condition  of  things  gave  Washington  far  more 
concern  than  the  slow  and  reluctant  manner  in  which  the 
militia  were  marching  to  their  assistance.  Indeed,  Wash 
ington's  opinion  of  the  militia  generally  was  not  flattering 
to  them.  "My  experience  of  the  many  evils  attending 
the  calling  in  of  a  considerable  body  of  raw  militia," 
he  wrote  to  General  Schuyler  on  the  22d  of  October, 
"  obliges  me  to  give  you  my  sentiments  upon  that  head, 
and  to  tell  you  that  I  fear  they  will  render  you  more 


180  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

disservice  than  any  real  good.  From  their  want  of  every 
necessary  for  a  camp,  when  they  join  a  regular  army 
they  commit  an  intolerable  waste  of  stores,  which  once 
put  into  their  hands  can  scarcely  be  regained,  and  are  so 
much  dead  loss  to  the  public ;  and  for  want  of  regularity 
in  their  drafts  of  ammunition,  provision,  and  other  neces 
saries,  they  consume  much  more  than  it  is  convenient  to 
spare  from  a  garrison  even  near  a  source  of  supplies, 
much  less  from  such  a  distance  that  it  requires  every 
exertion  to  keep  up  the  magazines  in  the  best  of  times. 
The  vexation  I  have  experienced  from  the  humors  and 
intolerable  caprice  of  militia  at  a  critical  time  makes  me 
feel  sensibly  for  the  officer  who  is  to  depend  on  them  in 
the  day  of  trial.  Instead  of  calling  up  a  number  of  use 
less  hands  and  mouths,  for  such  I  deem  the  militia  gen 
erally,  I  would  advise  the  collection  of  as  much  provision 
as  can  possibly  be  got  together." 

General  Schuyler  coincided  with  Washington  in  his 
opinion  of  the  inefficiency  of  the  militia.  "I  read  with 
sensible  satisfaction,"  he  replied,  "your  judicious  remarks 
on  the  militia.  I  assure  you  they  are  realized  in  this 
quarter.  If  General  Gates  was  not  so  very  importunate 
to  have  them  at  Ticonderoga,  I  should  certainly  dismiss 
many  of  them,  as  they  move  with  much  reluctance,  and 
will  neither  assist  in  fortifying  or  mounting  guard." 

On  the  25th  of  October,  the  Pennsylvania  Council  of 
Safety,  upon  the  recommendation  of  Congress,  promoted 
Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Irvine,  to  be  colonel  of  the 
Ninth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  under  the  new  Conti 
nental  establishment ;  Major  Anthony  James  Morris,  to 
be  lieutenant-colonel  of  De  Haas'  Regiment;  Captain 
Jonathan  Jones  to  be  major  of  De  Haas'  Regiment,  and 
Captain  David  Grier,  to  be  major  of  Irvine's. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  181 

After  the  25th,  General  Carleton  transferred  his  head 
quarters  from  the  Maria  to  Crown  Point.  The  Hesse 
Hanau  artillery,  as  has  been  mentioned,  were  the  only 
German  troops  that  accompanied  the  British  army  to 
Crown  Point.  The  rest  remained  in  Canada.  General 
Riedesel,  however,  visited  Crown  Point,  and  approached 
near  enough  to  Ticonderoga  to  view  the  American  works 
from  an  eminence. 

On  the  27th  the  enemy's  grenadiers,  light  infantry, 
and  the  twenty-fourth  regiment,  under  General  Fraser,* 

*  SIMON  FRASER  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  and  said  to  be  the  youngest  son  of 
Hugh  of  Balnain.  He  served  in  one  of  the  Scotch  regiments  in  the  pay  of  Hol 
land,  and  entered  the  British  army  as  captain  of  the  Second  Highland  Regiment, 
January  llth,  1757.  He  served  with  distinction  in  Germany,  and  was  made  ma 
jor  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  of  Foot  in  March,  1761.  He  was  promoted 
to  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  this  regiment  in  July,  1768,  and  accompanied  it 
to  Canada  in  1776.  He  was  made  brigadier-general  by  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  May 
22d,  1776,  and  as  such  participated  in  the  campaign  of  that  year.  He  did  not, 
however,  rank  as  such  in  the  British  army,  but  only  in  the  forces  then  engaged 
in  Canada.  He  became  colonel  of  his  regiment,  September  6th,  1777.  He  was 
the  first  to  dash  into  Ticonderoga  with  his  pickets,  after  its  evacuation  by  St. 
Clair,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1777 ;  pursued  the  retreating  Americans,  and  defeated 
their  rear  guard  at  Hubbardtown.  He  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  battles  of 
September  19th  and  October  7th,  1777.  In  the  latter  engagement,  while  mounted 
upon  an  iron  grey  horse,  a  bullet  cut  the  crupper  of  his  horse,  and  another  grazed 
his  mane.  "You  are  singled  out  general,"  said  his  aide  de  camp.  "  You  had 
better  shift  your  ground."  "  My  duty  forbids  me  to  fly  from  danger,"  was  his 
reply.  A  moment  afterwards  he  was  shot  down  by  Timothy  Murphy,  of  North 
umberland,  Pennsylvania,  a  sharpshooter  of  Morgan's  corps,  posted  in  a  tree. 
He  was  carried  into  the  Baroness  Riedesel's  house  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  learning  that  his  wound  was  mortal,  said  if  General  Burgoyne 
would  permit  it  he  should  like  to  be  buried  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  on  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  in  the  redoubt  which  he  had  built  there.  He  died  at  eight 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and,  though  the  retreat  was  delayed  by  it,  at 
six  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day  he  was  followed  to  the  mountain  by  the  gen 
erals,  where,  Mr.  Brudenell,  the  chaplain,  read  the  burial  service  over  his  re 
mains.  The  Americans,  seeing  indistinctly,  what  in  the  twilight  appeared  to  be 
a  movement  of  troops  up  the  hill  and  in  the  redoubt,  opened  a  cannonade  upon 
them,  by  which  the  dust  was  frequently  thrown  over  those  who  were  assembled 
around  the  grave.  General  Gates  stated  afterwards,  that  had  he  known  of  the 
burial,  the  cannonading  should  have  been  instantly  stopped.  "To  the  canvas," 
wrote  General  Burgoyne,  "  and  to  the  faithful  page  of  a  more  important  historian, 
gallant  friend,  I  consign  thy  memory.  There  may  thy  talents,  thy  manly  vir 
tues,  their  progress,  and  their  period,  find  due  distinction." 


182  THE   CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE 

advanced  as  far  as  Putnam's  Point,  nine  miles  below 
Ticonderoga,  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  where  they 
formed  an  advance  post  behind  Putnam's  Creek,  under 
the  guns  of  their  vessels  which  had  sailed  up  the  lake. 
Their  scouts  of  Indians  and  Canadians  came  near  enough 
to  the  American  lines  to  capture  in  the  night  two  men 
who  were  carrying  a  sick  soldier  to  the  landing  on  Lake 
George  on  his  way  to  the  hospital.  They  killed  the  sick 
soldier  and  took  the  two  men  prisoners  to  the  British 
camp.  They  were  immediately  released  by  General  Carle- 
ton,  and  upon  their  return  reported  that  they  had  wit 
nessed  such  activity  in  the  camp  of  the  enemy  as  indi 
cated  an  immediate  attack.  The  British  scouts  also 
captured  one  of  the  New  England  militia  who  had  ven 
tured  too  far  outside  the  lines. 

One-half  of  the  troops  at  Ticonderoga,  who  by  this  time 
had  arrived  at  a  high  state  of  discipline,  were  ordered  to 
be  alert  all  night,  and  the  other  half  to  sleep  upon  their 
arms.  Scarcely  time  enough  was  given  the  men  to  eat 
their  meals.  The  advance  posts  and  guards  were  doubled, 
and  at  night  officers  and  men  alike  slept  in  their  clothes. 

Richard  Stockton  and  George  Clyrner,  a  committee 
appointed  by  Congress  to  confer  with  General  Gates 
upon  the  state  of  the  Northern  army,  were  present  at 
Ticonderoga  during  these  days  as  witnesses  of  the  cour 
age,  vigilance,  and  suffering  of  the  troops.  They  were 
greatly  distressed  at  their  forlorn  condition  at  that  severe 
season  of  the  year,  many  of  them  being  still  barefooted 
and  bare  legged,  "My  heart  melts/'  wrote  Richard 
Stockton,  "for  my  brave  countrymen  who  are  thus  ven 
turing  their  lives  in  the  public  service,  and  yet  are  so 
distressed.  There  is  not  a  single  shoe  or  stocking  to  be 
had  in  this  part  of  the  world,  or  I  should  ride  a  hundred 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  183 

miles  through  the  woods  and  purchase  them  with  my  own 
money,  for  you'll  consider  that  the  weather  here  must 
be  very  different  from  that  in  New  Jersey.  It  is  very 
cold  now  I  assure  you."  "We  continued  at  Ticonderoga," 
they  wrote  to  Congress  from  Albany  on  the  30th  of  No 
vember,  "in  hourly  expectation  of  sharing  in  the  glory 
of  our  army  in  a  successful  opposition  to  the  attack  of 
General  Carleton,  but  we  were  disappointed,  and  instead 
thereof,  had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  that  he  had  totally 
evacuated  Crown  Point." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Alarm  Guns  Announce  the  Approach  of  the  British — The  Americans 
promptly  Man  the  Fortifications — Landing  of  British  Troops  on  Three-Mile 
Point — A  Reconnaissance  by  British  Gunboats — An  Assault  upon  the  Works 
Imminent — The  British  Troops  Retire  Without  Striking  a  Blow — Further 
Suspense — Detachments  sent  by  Gates  to  "beat  up"  the  Enemy's  advance 
post — The  British  Army  Retreats  into  Canada — Gates  Dismisses  the  Militia 
and  Details  a  Permanent  Garrison  for  Ticonderoga — Departure  of  the  First 
Pennsylvania  and  First  and  Second  New  Jersey  Regiments — Their  March 
Southward — Departure  of  General  Gates  with  Bond's,  Porter's,  Reed's,  Be 
del's,  Stark's,  Poor's,  Greaton's,  and  Patterson's,  Regiments — Their  March 
to  Reinforce  Washington's  Army — Departure  of  other  Troops  from  Ticon 
deroga — Dispatches  for  General  Carleton  which  failed  to  reach  him — Causes 
of  the  Retreat — Return  of  General  Burgoyne  to  England — Lieutenant-Gen 
eral  John  Burgoyne — Washington  visits  Ticonderoga — Conclusion. 

ON  Monday  morning  the  28th  of  October,  the  booming 
of  the  alarm  gun  on  the  advanced  guard-boat  down  the 
lake,  announced  that  the  enemy  were  in  motion.  By  a 
preconcerted  arrangement  this  gun  was  instantly  followed 
by  another  from  the  Jersey  redoubt,  which  was  followed 
by  another  from  the  main  battery  in  the  French  lines, 
and  still  another,  in  quick  succession,  from  the  semi-cir 
cular  redoubt  on  Mount  Independence.  The  reverbera 
tions  of  these  alarm  guns  had  not  died  out  in  the  neigh 
boring  hills,  before  every  man  who  could  carry  a  musket 
was  in  line,  marching  with  a  firm  and  confident  step 
to  the  intrenchments.  "Nothing  could  exceed,"  wrote 
General  Gates,  "the  spirit  and  alertness  which  was  shown 
by  all  officers  and  soldiers  in  executing  every  order  that 
was  given."  They  had  done  days  and  nights  of  hard  and 

(184) 


THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.        185 

vigilant  duty,  lest  this  signal  should  come  upon  them  un 
awares.  It  found  them  ready.  In  a  few  minutes  every 
man  was  at  his  post,  coolly,  confidently,  and  courage 
ously  awaiting  the  enemy's  approach.  It  was  a  beautiful 
autumn  day  and  the  thousand  forest  tints  were  just 
dying  out  of  the  beautiful  landscape  about  them.  In  an 
hour  five  of  the  enemy's  largest  gun-boats  appeared  in 
sight,  and  landed  troops,  including  Indians  and  Cana 
dians,  on  Three-Mile  Point,  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake, 
half  an  hour's  march  from  the  American  alarm  post. 
Two  of  the  gun-boats  then  proceeded  up  the  lake,  in 
clining  toward  the  eastern  shore  for  the  purpose  of 
avoiding  the  Jersey  redoubt  on  the  eastern  point  of 
Ticonderoga.  They  approached  within  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  when  a  fire  was  opened  upon  them  from  the  re 
doubt,  and  also  from  the  row-galley  Trumbull,  stationed 
over  the  boom.  One  shot  took  effect,  killing  two  men, 
after  which  the  boats  hastily  withdrew.  Thirteen  small 
bateaux  and  birch  canoes,  bearing  troops,  also  crossed 
from  Three-Mile  Point  to  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  and 
landed  the  men  about  four  miles  below  the  redoubts  on 
Mount  Independence.  It  was  believed  that  this  party 
intended  to  occupy  the  point  of  land  directly  opposite 
the  stone  redoubts  on  the  eastern  point  of  Ticonderoga 
where  the  lake  is  less  than  half  a  mile  wide  and  engage 
the  redoubts  from  there.  These  movements  indicated 
that  the  enemy  were  concentrating  their  main  force  on 
the  west  side  of  the  lake,  as  was  expected,  and  contem 
plated  an  immediate  attack  upon  the  French  lines  and 
redoubts.  The  regimental  colors  were  stuck  in  the  top 
of  the  earthworks  there,  and  were  floating  defiantly  in 
the  October  breeze.  General  Gates  immediately  ordered 
Poor's,  Reed's,  and  Greaton's  regiments  to  cross  the  lake 


186  THE    CAMPAIGN   FOR    THE 

from  Mount  Independence  and  reinforce  the  troops  in 
the  French  lines  and  redoubts.  The  order  was  obeyed 
with  alacrity  and  dispatch.  The  guard-boat  was  ordered 
in.  The  nature  of  the  country  permitted  the  enemy  to 
have  a  full  view  of  the  whole  of  the  American  works 
and  the  troops  that  defended  them.  "  Ticonderoga," 
writes  Colonel  John  Trumbull,  the  Adjutant-General, 
"must  have  had  a  very  imposing  aspect  that  day  when 
viewed  from  the  lake.  The  whole  summit  of  cleared 
land  on  both  sides  of  the  lake  was  crowded  with  redoubts 
and  batteries,  all  manned,  with  a  splendid  show  of  artil 
lery  and  flags.  The  number  of  our  troops  under  arms  on 
that  day  (principally,  however,  militia,)  exceeded  thirteen 
thousand."  Upwards  of  one  hundred  pieces  of  heavy 
cannon  were  mounted  on  the  works. 

In  this  state  of  uncertainty  and  anticipation,  the  sit 
uation  remained  all  day,  when  the  enemy  withdrew. 
About  four  o'clock  they  began  to  re-embark  their  troops, 
and  the  thirteen  boats  and  canoes  returned  with  the 
troops  from  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake.  By  sunset 
it  was  observed  that  the  body  of  the  enemy  had  retired. 
The  guard-boat  was  ordered  to  resume  its  place,  and 
General  Gates  thanked  the  troops  "for  the  alert  and 
spirited  manner  with  which  they  prepared  to  face  the 
enemy." 

The  British  advance  post,  consisting  of  all  the  light 
infantry,  grenadiers,  and  a  large  body  of  Indians  and 
Canadians,  was  still  maintained  behind  Putnam's  Creek, 
and  three  large  vessels  remained  at  anchor  off  Putnam's 
Point.  The  British  also  still  continued  their  occupation 
of  Chimney  and  Crown  Points. 

An  attack  was  still  daily  expected,  and  the  troops  at 
Ticonderoga  were  kept  constantly  supplied  with  two 


CONQUEST   OF   CANADA.  187 

days'  cooked  provisions.  The  same  state  of  suspense 
and  vigilance  was  prolonged  throughout  the  entire  week 
following,  day  and  night. 

On  Saturday  evening,  the  2d  of  November,  at  eight 
o'clock  (the  American  works  having  been  completed  and 
placed  in  the  best  possible  order),  a  detachment  of  four 
hundred  men  under  Major  James  Dunlop  of  the  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  was  sent  down  the  west  side  of  the  lake, 
and  simultaneously,  a  detachment  of  five  hundred  men 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Samuel  Conner,  of  Connecticut, 
was  sent  down  the  east  side  of  the  lake  for  the  purpose 
of  "beating  up"  the  enemy's  advance  post  at  Putnam's 
Creek,  and  the  side  of  the  lake  opposite.  They  were 
provided  with  three  days'  cooked  provisions.  It  was 
their  intention  to  have  attacked  the  enemy  on  Sunday 
morning.  They  found  both  posts  abandoned.  Major 
Dunlop  took  possession  of  Putnam's  Point.  They  re 
ported  that  they  saw  the  enemy  embarking,  a  vessel  with 
live  stock  on  board  still  remaining  to  protect  the  retreat. 
The  last  of  the  British  troops  abandoned  Crown  Point  at 
ten  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  November  4th,  leaving 
behind  them  evidences  of  precipitation.  On  the  day  the 
British  evacuated  Crown  Point  there  was  not  a  barrel  of 
flour  in  the  storehouse  at  Ticonderoga,  and  for  a  week 
thereafter  a  daily  supply  of  only  twenty  to  thirty  barrels 
was  drawn  from  the  stores  at  Bennington  by  land. 

General  Carleton,  with  the  fleet,  sailed  down  the  lake 
and  anchored  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  John's.  Here  the 
fleet  was  dismantled  and  prepared  to  withstand  the  rigors 
of  a  Canadian  winter.  The  troops  went  into  winter  quar 
ters  in  the  settlements  along  the  Sorel  and  St.  Lawrence, 
and  not  a  British  soldier  remained  in  front  of  the  North 
ern  army  on  American  soil.  Two  or  three  of  them  were 


188  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

quartered  in  each  of  the  houses  of  those  inhabitants  who 
had  been  loyal  to  the  crown,  and  a  greater  number  upon 
those  who  had  sympathized  with  the  colonies.  The 
troops  were  obliged  to  gather  their  own  fuel.  Their 
rations  were  furnished  to  them  raw,  and  such  things  as 
they  obtained  from  their  hosts  they  were  obliged  to  pay 
for.  From  these  quarters  they  emerged  in  the  following 
spring  to  embark  upon  the  expedition  which  ended  in  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

When  General  Gates  learned  that  the  British  had 
evacuated  Crown  Point,  he  dispatched  Colonel  Wiggles- 
worth  down  the  lake  to  Isle  aux  Noix  with  a  flag  of  truce 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  definite  information  of  the  de 
signs  of  the  enemy.  Being  thus  reliably  advised  of  the 
British  retreat  into  Canada,  he  dismissed  the  militia,  and 
detailed  about  fourteen  hundred  men,  consisting  of  St. 
Clair's,  Wayne's,  and  Irvine's,  Pennsylvania;  Dayton's 
New  Jersey;  BurrelTs  Connecticut,  and  Whitcomb's 
Massachusetts  regiments,  as  the  permanent  garrison  of 
Ticonderoga,  under  command  of  Colonel  Wayne.  He 
ordered  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  then  number 
ing  four  hundred  and  seventy-two  men,  and  the  First 
and  Second  New  Jersey  Regiments,  with  Generals  St. 
Clair  and  Maxwell,  to  embark  on  Lake  George  for  their 
homes  at  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  Novem 
ber.  The  earth  was  then  frozen  hard  and  ice  was  begin 
ning  to  form  on  the  lakes.  They  marched  to  Albany, 
and  from  there  descended  the  Hudson  on  sloops  to  New 
Windsor. 

In  the  meantime  Washington  sent  pressing  orders  for 
them  to  join  his  army.  Schuyler,  therefore,  counter 
manded  the  orders  to  march  to  their  homes,  and  ordered 
them  to  join  Washington  with  all  possible  dispatch.  It 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  189 

was  one  of  the  conditions  of  their  re-enlistment  under 
the  new  establishment  that  they  should  be  allowed  to 
visit  their  homes  before  again  engaging  in  active  service. 
The  regimental  order  at  the  time  of  their  re-enlistment 
at  Ticonderoga,  being  that  they  should  receive  "a  full 
assurance  of  returning  to  Pennsylvania  as  soon  as  the 
enemy  are  defeated,  which  the  colonel  hopes  will  be  in  a 
few  days,  perhaps  in  a  few  hours."  "I  shall  not  fail  to 
do  everything  in  my  power  to  inspirit  the  troops,"  wrote 
General  St.  Clair,  in  reply  to  Schuyler's  orders,  "but  I 
doubt  very  much  that  they  will  not  easily  be  kept  to 
gether.  I  hope  to  get  them  to  General  Washington's 
army,  and  if  they  once  come  in  sight  of  the  enemy  they 
will  be  satisfied."  From  New  Windsor,  the  First  Penn 
sylvania  Regiment  marched  by  the  way  of  Haverstraw 
and  Pompton  to  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  and  from  there 
continued  their  march  to  Pluckamin,  about  thirty  miles 
north  of  Trenton,  at  which  place  they  arrived  about  the 
3d  of  December. 

Washington,  who  was  then  at  Trenton  with  his  army, 
ordered  them  to  halt  at  Pluckamin,  and  to  be  kept  to 
gether,  if  they  could  possibly  be  prevailed  upon  to  do  so, 
until  further  orders.  They  marched  to  New  German- 
town,  six  miles  to  the  west,  where  on  the  8th  they  mus 
tered  only  forty-seven  rank  and  file  fit  for  duty,  and 
seventeen  sick.  On  the  same  day  the  rear  of  Washing 
ton's  army  crossed  to  the  Pennsylvania  side  of  the  Del 
aware.  The  advance  division  of  the  British  army  under 
General  Howe  reached  the  Delaware  at  Trenton  a  few 
hours  after  Washington's  army  had  crossed,  and  the  rear 
division  under  Lord  Cornwallis  reached  the  river  at 
Coryell's  Ferry  (now  Lambertville)  on  the  next  day. 
Washington  having  collected  or  destroyed  all  the  boats, 


190  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

their  further  progress  was  arrested  at  this  point.  The 
hilly  country  to  the  north  remained  in  the  occupation  of 
the  Americans.  General  Sullivan,  with  Lee's  division  of 
the  American  army,  was  at  New  Germantown  when  Lee 
was  captured  at  Baskingridge  on  the  13th. 

On  a  return  of  his  officers,  dated  Philadelphia,  January 
10th,  1777,  Colonel  de  Haas  made  the  following  endorse 
ment  : — "  This  is  to  certify  that  during  the  time  I  had  the 
honor  to  command  the  above  gentlemen,  they  behaved 
themselves  like  gentlemen,  and  as  became  good  soldiers." 

Toward  the  close  of  November,  General  Gates  left 
Ticonderoga,  with  Bond's,  Porter's,  Reed's,  Bedel's, 
Stark's,  Poor's,  Greaton's,  and  Patterson's  regiments  for 
the  purpose  of  reinforcing  General  Washington's  army, 
which  was  then  on  its  retreat  across  the  Jerseys,  reduced 
to  three  thousand  men.  They  descended  the  Hudson  in 
boats  from  Albany  to  Esopus,  and  marched  from  there 
to  Sussex  Court  House,  in  New  Jersey.  Greaton's, 
Bond's,  and  Porter's  marched  from  Sussex  to  Morris- 
town,  where  they  remained  under  command  of  General 
Maxwell,  for  the  protection  of  the  surrounding  country 
which  had  been  abandoned  by  the  militia.  General 
Gates,  with  Reed's,  Bedel's,  Stark's,  Poor's,  and  Patter 
son's  regiments  crossed  the  Delaware  above  Easton  and 
marched  to  Bethlehem  where  they  were  joined  by  Lee's 
division  under  General  Sullivan,  which  had  marched  from 
New  Germantown,  and  crossed  the  Delaware  at  Easton. 
Together  these  troops  joined  Washington's  army  at  his 
camp  above  Trenton  Falls,  on  the  20th  of  December. 

Wingate's  and  Wy man's  New  Hampshire  regiments 
left  Ticonderoga  for  Number  Four  by  the  new  road  which 
had  been  opened  from  Mount  Independence  to  Rutland. 
Swift's  and  Mott's  Connecticut  regiments  marched  for 

O 


CONQUEST   OF    CANADA.  191 

their  homes  by  the  Skenesborough  and  Bennington  road 
by  which  they  had  come.  Brewer's,  Willard's,  Read's, 
Wiggles  worth's,  and  Phinney's  Massachusetts  regiments 
marched  down  to  Albany  and  from  there  to  their  homes 
by  the  way  of  Hadley  on  the  Connecticut  river.  Wheel- 
ock's,  and  Woodbridge's  Massachusetts  regiments,  not 
being  able  to  obtain  bateaux  for  transportation  across 
Lake  George,  went  home  on  November  25th,  by  the  way 
of  Skenesborough  and  Number  Four. 

Thus  ended  the  Northern  campaign  of  1776,  "an  enter 
prise,"  writes  a  distinguished  historian,  "bold  in  its  con 
ception,  daring  and  hardy  in  its  execution ;  full  of  inge 
nious  expedients,  and  hazardous  exploits ;  and  which, 
had  not  unforeseen  circumstances  counteracted  its  well- 
devised  plans,  might  have  added  all  Canada  to  the  Amer 
ican  confederacy." 

Generals  Burgoyne  and  Phillips  had  strongly  advo 
cated  an  attack  upon  Ticonderoga  and  resisted  the  evac 
uation  of  Crown  Point,  but  were  over-ruled  by  General 
Caiieton,  the  wisest  soldier  of  them  all.  Though  greatly 
depressed  in  spirit  at  the  result  of  the  campaign,  he  had 
determined  to  send  the  army  into  winter-quarters  in 
Canada.  The  demonstration  of  the  28th  of  October  was 
not  with  the  intention  of  making  an  attack  upon  the 
Americans,  but  was  rather  a  reconnaissance  in  force 
made  in  the  hope  that,  discouraged  by  the  loss  of  their 
fleet,  they  would  be  driven  by  such  a  display  of  force 
upon  his  part  to  evacuate  the  place.  Little  did  he  un 
derstand  his  enemy.  Disappointed  at  his  failure,  he  at 
once  made  preparations  to  withdraw  his  forces  down  the 
lake,  and  on  the  15th  went  himself  to  his  winter  res 
idence  at  Quebec. 

Sir  Guy  Carleton  had  sent  his  aid-de-camp,  Captain 


192  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

Le  Maitre,  to  England,  with  dispatches,  in  one  of  the  ves 
sels  which  had  brought  out  the  reinforcements  in  June. 
On  the  22d  of  August,  Lord  George  Germain  had  sent  a 
dispatch  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton  by  this  officer,  who  sailed 
from  Falmouth,  in  the  packet  Swallow,  on  the  1st  of 
September.  He  succeeded  in  getting  into  the  gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  three  times,  but  owing  to  adverse  winds  he 
found  it  impossible  to  ascend  to  Quebec.  He  therefore 
returned  to  England  carrying  the  dispatch  with  him. 
It  directed  that  as  soon  as  Carleton  had  succeeded  in 
driving  the  Americans  out  of  Canada,  he  should  return 
to  Quebec,  taking  with  him  such  portions  of  the  army  as 
he  should  deem  sufficient  for  the  defence  of  the  province, 
and  detach  Lieutenant-General  Burgoyne,  or  such  other 
officer  as  he  should  think  proper,  with  the  remainder  of 
the  troops,  "and  direct  the  officer  so  detached  to  proceed 
with  all  possible  expedition  to  join  General  Howe  and 
put  himself  under  his  command."  Had  that  dispatch 
reached  its  destination,  Burgoyne  would  doubtless  have 
hurled  his  well-equipped  legions  against  the  works  at 
Ticonderoga  and  been  repulsed  with  frightful  slaughter. 
The  result  of  the  campaign  would  in  all  probability  have 
been  the  same,  but  by  this  action  of  the  elements  it  was 
accomplished  without  the  shedding  of  blood. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  wrote  to 
Lord  George  Germain  as  follows : — "  The  season  is  so  far 
advanced  that  I  can  not  yet  pretend  to  inform  your  lord 
ship  whether  anything  further  can  be  done  this  season." 
The  lateness  of  the  season  was  not  the  cause  of  his  fail 
ure.  It  was  only  a  pretext  with  which  Carleton  sought 
to  forestall  the  unfavorable  impression  which  the  news  of 
his  retreat  was  sure  to  produce  upon  the  government  at 
home.  He  only  used  it  to  prepare  the  way  with  them 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  193 

for  the  reception  of  the  news  of  that  event.  It  deceived 
no  one,  not  even  himself.  Two  months  later  Washing 
ton's  little  army,  including  many  of  the  troops  who  were 
then  at  Ticonderoga,  passed  the  Delaware  through  the 
ice  and,  leaving  their  blood  in  their  frozen  tracks,  marched 
against  the  Hessians  at  Trenton,  retrieved  the  fortunes 
of  the  war,  and  regained  New  Jersey.  From  the  time 
the  British  army  reached  St.  Johns  on  the  19th  of  June, 
there  remained  but  one  issue  between  the  contending 
armies — the  control  of  the  way  to  the  Hudson.  The 
British  army  was  fresh  from  Europe,  well  supplied  and 
equipped  in  everything.  The  American  army  had  en 
dured  the  hardships  of  a  winter  campaign,  and  was 
wasted  by  disease,  famine,  nakedness,  and  defeat.  Yet 
notwithstanding  this  disparity  between  them  the  Amer 
icans  conquered  their  misfortunes,  and  on  the  3d  of  Sep 
tember  had  their  fleet  at  the  northern  end  of  Lake 
Champlain,  almost  within  the  British  lines,  and  with 
two  months  of  the  finest  campaigning  weather  of  the 
year  before  them.  The  Americans  during  all  this  time 
were  in  constant  expectation  of  an  attack  from  the  Brit 
ish,  and  their  delay  was  a  continued  source  of  surprise 
and  perplexity  to  them.  The  true  cause  of  Carle  ton's 
retreat  was  a  want  of  confidence  in  his  ability  to  carry 
the  American  works,  and  a  dread  of  the  consequences 
of  defeat.  He  had  come  with  all  the  pomp  and  circum 
stance  of  war  to  the  very  gates  of  the  fortress,  and  when 
defied  by  the  troops  that  held  it,  he  retired  hastily  be 
yond  the  waters  of  the  lake,  knowing  as  he  did  that  any 
attempt  upon  the  works  must  result  in  fearful  loss  of 
life,  if  not  in  the  destruction  of  his  army.  Had  he 
adopted  any  other  course,  the  fate  of  Abercrombie's 
legions  might  have  been  repeated. 


194  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE 

General  Burgoyne*  returned  to  England  toward  the 
close  of  the  year  with  news  of  the  failure  of  the  expe 
dition,  and  the  retreat  of  the  army  to  Canada.  This 
unwelcome  intelligence  occasioned  so  much  disappoint 
ment  and  dissatisfaction  that  both  Carleton  and  Burgoyne 
were  in  great  disfavor  with  the  government.  Lord 
George  Germain  stigmatized  the  campaign  as  "  opera 
tions  conducted  without  sense  or  vigor."  He  had  ex 
pected  far  different  results.  When  he  heard  that  the 
siege  of  Quebec  had  been  raised,  and  had  issued  a  ga 
zette  extraordinary  announcing  that  event,  he  sat  down 
and  wrote  to  Governor  Tryon,  in  the  exultation  of  the 

*JOHN  BURGOYNE  was  the  natural  son  of  Lord  Bingley,  and  adopted  the 
profession  of  arms  at  a  very  early  age.  He  eloped  while  a  lieutenant,  with  a 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Derby.  He  served  as  a  captain  in  France.  In  August, 
1759,  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  of  Light 
Dragoons,  and  served  in  1761  at  Belle  Isle.  In  1762  he  was  made  brigadier-gen 
eral,  and  sent  with  a  force  to  join  Count  Lippe,  in  Portugal,  to  fight  against  Spain. 
In  that  campaign  he  distinguished  himself  by  the  surprise  and  capture  of  Va- 
lentia  d' Alcantara.  He  was  elected  to  Parliament  from  the  borough  of  Middle 
sex,  and  made  major-general  in  1772.  He  was  in  Parliament  when  the  American 
Revolution  began,  and  obeyed  a  summons  to  take  part  in  it  with  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-general.  He  landed  at  Boston  in  time  to  witness  the  battle  of  Bunker's 
Hill,  and  praised  the  Americans  for  the  courage  and  ability  displayed  by  them 
on  that  memorable  day.  He  returned  to  England  and  sailed  for  Canada,  in  April, 
1776.  He  again  returned  to  England  at  the  close  of  the  campaign  of  that  year, 
and  came  back  to  Canada  in  the  spring  of  1777  to  undertake  the  expedition  which 
resulted  in  his  surrender  to  General  Gates,  at  Saratoga,  in  October,  1777.  Upon 
his  return  to  England  after  that  disaster  he  was  denied  an  audience  of  the  King, 
and  refused  a  court-martial.  He  was  again  elected  to  Parliament  from  Preston 
in  Lancashire,  and  was  one  of  the  managers  for  conducting  the  impeachment  of 
Warren  Hastings.  After  the  close  of  the  American  war  he  was  made  commander- 
in-chief  in  Ireland.  He  resigned  this  position  two  years  later,  and  devoted  the 
remainder  of  his  life  to  literary  pursuits.  He  possessed  considerable  literary 
vanity.  Horace  VValpole  ridiculed  his  early  literary  efforts,  but  was  obliged  to 
admit  that  his  later  comedy  "  The  Heiress,"  possessed  decided  merit.  He  was 
tall,  handsome,  and  graceful  in  manner,  but,  thotigh  his  career  was  conspicuous 
and  brilliant,  he  was  not  great  in  either  civil,  or  military  life.  His  polished 
manners  and  accomplishments  made  him  a  great  favorite  in  society,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  most  fashionable  gentlemen  of  his  day.  His  successful  and  fortunate 
career  came  to  a  dismal  close  in  his  humiliating  surrender  at  Saratoga,  from  the 
effects  of  which  his  reputation  never  recovered.  He  died  June  4th,  1792. 


CONQUEST    OF    CANADA.  195 

moment,  that  he  had  no  doubt  Crown  Point  and  Ticon- 
deroga  would  be  restored  to  his  Majesty's  possession 
before  the  campaign  was  ended.  He  was  in  no  humor, 
therefore,  to  welcome  Burgoyne,  and  it  was  some  time 
before  the  King  would  grant  him  an  audience. 

Too  great  measure  of  praise  and  gratitude  can  not  be 
meted  out  to  this  heroic  little  American  army,  which,  in 
so  short  a  time,  and  under  so  many  disadvantages,  had 
arisen  out  of  its  own  ashes,  and  turned  back  the  same 
proud  British  army  which  under  the  same  officers  per 
ished  in  fire  and  blood  at  Saratoga,  in  the  following  year. 
It  was  then  quite  as  numerous  as  it  was  at  Saratoga, 
quite  as  well  if  not  better  equipped,  quite  as  boastful 
and  defiant.  It  was  flushed  with  the  victory  on  the  lake 
which  had  destroyed  the  American  fleet,  and  given  it  un 
disputed  control  of  the  waters  of  Champlain.  It  was 
bent  upon  the  same  mission  of  forming  a  junction  with 
the  British  army  in  New  York  under  Howe,  and  by  thus 
controlling  the  water  line  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
to  New  York  bay,  to  effectually  sever  all  communication 
between  the  eastern  colonies  and  those  to  the  south. 

Had  Carleton  not  been  compelled,  by  the  defiant  front 
presented  by  the  American  forces  at  Ticonderoga,  to  stay 
the  blow  which  he  had  lifted  his  hand  to  strike,  history 
would  now  record  as  bloody  if  not  a  bloodier  scene  there, 
and  the  story  of  Saratoga  might  never  have  been  told. 
Gates,  who  was  popular  with  the  army,  was  there  pre 
pared  to  meet  the  issue  then,  as  at  Saratoga.  Schuyler 
had  not  then  been  unjustly  and  ungenerously  superseded 
by  Congress.  Arnold  was  there  ready  to  surpass,  if  pos 
sible,  his  brilliant  achievements  at  Saratoga,  for  his  rela 
tions  with  Gates  were  then  more  cordial.  John  Stark 
was  there,  also,  to  anticipate,  if  it  had  been  necessary, 


196  THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR    THE 

under  more  favorable  auspices  (for  he  had  not  then  been 
driven  from  the  army  by  the  ingratitude  of  Congress) 
his  brilliant  victory  at  Bennington.  Enoch  Poor  was 
there  also ;  and  in  addition  to  this  brilliant  array  of 
names,  which  acquired  new  lustre  at  Saratoga  instead  of 
acquiring  it  there,  they  had  among  them  the  gallant  and 
fearless  Anthony  Wayne. 

An  eminent  writer,  in  speaking  of  those  times  which 
tried  men's  souls,  has  said  that  "all  the  defeats,  indeed, 
all  the  struggles,  the  battles,  the  sacrifices,  the  sufferings 
at  all  times,  and  in  every  colony,  were  indispensable  to 
the  great  result — all  essential  lights  and  shades  in  the 
immortal  picture."  "The  severest  trials  of  the  Revolu 
tion,"  writes  another,  "in  fact,  were  not  in  the  field,  where 
there  were  shouts  to  excite  and  laurels  to  be  won,  but 
in  the  squalid  wretchedness  of  ill-provided  camps,  where 
there  was  nothing  to  cheer  and  everything  to  be  endured. 
To  suffer  was  the  lot  of  the  Revolutionary  soldier." 

Though  posterity  does  not  recall  with  the  same  inter 
est,  and  the  historian  has  not  felt  it  to  be  necessary  to 
dwell  upon  this  bloodless  victory  at  Ticonderoga  and  the 
sad  events  which  preceded  it,  with  the  same  detail  that 
the  glory  of  Saratoga  is  recorded,  yet  in  sufferings  and 
sacrifices,  as  well  as  in  results,  it  was  one  of  the  most 
important  victories  of  the  war.  No  one  will  now  admit 
that  if  those  brave,  vigilant,  and  poorly-clad  men  had 
not  successfully  stood  in  the  intrenchments  at  Ticonder 
oga  day  and  night  through  those  bleak  autumn  weeks, 
ready  to  shed  their  blood  in  defence  of  their  liberties,  the 
result  would  have  been  fatal  to  the  cause  of  American 
Independence.  There  can  be  little  doubt,  however,  that 
it  would  greatly  have  embarrassed  that  cause,  at  a  time 
when  it  already  had  more  than  it  could  bear;  indeed, 


CONQUEST    OF   CANADA.  197 

that  it  would  have  prolonged  the  struggle,  if  it  had  not 
crushed  it  outright  for  the  time  being.  If  Carleton  had 
defeated  them,  and  Ticonderoga  had  been  evacuated,  as 
it  was  in  the  following  year,  Congress,  which  had  fled 
to  Baltimore,  and  the  colonists,  who  were  then  entering 
upon  the  darkest  days  of  the  whole  struggle,  would  not 
have  been  as  able  to  prevent  him  from  going  into  winter 
quarters  at  Albany,  as  they  were  to  prevent  Burgoyne 
in  the  following  year.  Washington,  with  his  weak  and 
dissolving  army,  then  fleeing  across  New  Jersey  before 
the  victorious  British  forces,  would  not  have  been  as  able 
to  send  them  reinforcements,  and  to  prevent  Howe  and 
Cornwallis  from  co-operating  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton  by 
engaging  their  attention  with  the  army  of  Brandywine 
and  Germantown,  as  he  was  in  the  following  year.  More 
over,  Washington  would  not  then  have  received  the  rein 
forcements  which  enabled  him  to  regain  New  Jersey. 

The  repulse  of  Carleton  was  the  only  event  which  shed 
a  ray  of  hope  upon  the  dark  despondency  of  that  fall. 
It  not  only  effectually  disposed  of  a  great  danger  from 
the  north,  but  it  turned  the  tide  of  fortune  in  favor  of 
the  American  arms  to  the  south  by  releasing  the  troops 
that  enabled  Washington  to  strike  the  successful  blow  at 
Trenton. 

The  confidence  inspired  by  the  repulse  of  Carleton, 
doubtless  led  to  the  supineness  which  enabled  Burgoyne 
to  advance,  without  resistance,  to  the  Hudson  in  1777. 

In  July,  1783,  whilst  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the 
definitive  treaty  of  peace,  Washington,  accompanied  by 
Governor  Clinton,  visited  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
and  examined  with  interest  each  spot  made  memorable 
by  the  events  that  have  just  been  recited.  He  was 
thus  among  the  first  of  the  long  line  of  pilgrims  who 
have  followed  in  the  century  that  has  since  elapsed. 


198        THE    CAMPAIGN    FOR   THE    CONQUEST    OF    CANADA. 

The  story  of  the  sufferings,  the  zeal,  the  patience,  the 
patriotism,  the  perseverance,  and  the  valor  of  the  men 
who  won  this  victory  at  Ticonderoga,  should  be  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  by  their  countrymen  to  the  latest 
generation.  Like  the  story  of  Valley  Forge,  it  is  not 
told  in  startling  deeds  of  blood.  Though  but  few  had 
perished  by  the  sword,  yet  five  thousand  who  had  gone 
out  at  the  call  of  their  country  never  returned.  More 
than  one  out  of  every  three  became  the  victims  of  pest 
ilence,  want,  and  exposure,  and  many  of  those  who  passed 
through  the  campaign,  came  out  of  it  with  broken  con 
stitutions  to  fill  premature  graves. 


APPENDIX. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE 

FIRST  PENNSYLVANIA   EEGIMENT 

In  the  Regular   Continental  Army. 


Field  Officers: 

Colonel,       ....     JOHN  PHILIP  DE  HAAS. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,  .         .         JAMES  IRVINE. 
Major,         ....     ANTHONY  JAMES  MORRIS. 


Chaplain,    . 
Adjutant, 
Quartermaster,     . 
Surgeon,  . 
Surgeon, 
Surgeon's  Mate, 

Captains : 

1.  Jonathan  Jones, 

2.  William  Williams, 

3.  Josiah  Harmar, 

4.  Marien  Lamar, 

5.  Thomas  Dorsey, 

6.  William  Jenkins, 

7.  Augustin  Willet, 

8.  Benjamin  Davis, 

9.  John  Nelson. 


Staff: 

.     DANIEL  McCALLA. 
JOHN  PATTERSON. 
.    JACOB  SHALLUS. 

ROBERT  BO  YD,  Resigned  April  19,  '76. 

.     BENJAMIN  ALISON,  June  13,  ITTG. 
NICHOLAS  SCULL. 


First  Lieutenants  : 

1.  Samuel  Watson, 

2.  Jacob  Ashmead, 

3.  Peter  Hughes, 

4.  Adam  Hubley, 

5.  John  Rees, 

6.  Frederick  Blankenberg, 

7.  Pvichard  Stanly, 

8.  John  Morgan, 

9.  William  Oldham. 


(199) 


200 


APPENDIX. 


Second  Lieutenants : 

1.  Roger  Stayner,  Jr., 

2.  George  Jenkins, 

3.  Christian  Staddel, 

4.  Amos  Wilkinson, 

5.  John  Ellis, 

6.  Samuel  Tolbert, 

7.  Peter  Gossner, 

8.  John  Cobea, 

9.  Adam  Ott. 


Ensigns : 

1.  Philip  Clumberg,  Jr., 

2.  Jacob  Ziegler. 

3.  Thomas  Ryerson, 

4.  William  Moore, 

5.  Joseph  Greenway, 

6.  John  Irwin, 

7.  John  Briee, 

8.  Benjamin  Rice, 

9.  Robert  McCollom. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE 

PENNSYLVANIA  ARTILLERY. 


Captain, 

Captain  Lieutenant, 
First  Lieutenant, 
Second  Lieutenant,  . 
Third  Lieutenant, 
Conductor,  .     . 


BERNARD  ROMANS. 
GIBBS  JONES. 
MATTHEW  WHITLOW. 
NATHANIEL  DONNELL. 
THOMAS  BARK. 
ANDREW  CALDWELL. 


APPENDIX. 


201 


OFFICERS  OF  THE 

SECOND  PENNSYLVANIA   REGIMENT 

In  the  Regular  Continental  Army. 


Field  Officers: 

Colonel,       ....     ARTHUR  ST.  CLAIR. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,  .         .         WILLIAM  ALLEN,  JR. 
Major,          ....     JOSEPH  WOOD. 


Adjutant, 
Quartermaster, 
Surgeon, 
Chaplain, 
Paymaster   . 
Drum  Major,  . 

Captains  : 

1.  Samuel  Watson. 

2.  Kudolph  Banner. 

3.  Thomas  Craig. 

4.  William  Butler. 

5.  Stephen  Bayard. 

6.  John  Brisban. 

7.  John  Reese. 

8.  John  Hulirig. 

Second  Lieutenants 

1.  James  Montgomery. 

2.  Ezra  Bartleson. 

3.  John  Craig. 

4.  Charles  Seitz. 

5.  Isaac  Budd  Dunn. 

6.  William  Chambers. 
7. 

8.  Ross  Currie. 


Staff: 
.     GEORGE  Ross. 

JAMES  ARMSTRONG. 
.     SAMUEL  McKiNziE. 

DANIEL  MCCALLA. 
.     BENJAMIN  FISHBOURNE. 

JOHN  HALL. 

First  Lieutenants : 

1.  John  Chilton. 

2.  Thomas  L.  Moore. 

3.  Andrew  Kachlein. 

4.  Thomas  Butler. 

5.  James  Chrystie. 

6.  John  Gross. 

7.  Samuel  Moore. 

8.  William  Burd. 

Ensigns  : 

1.  Benjamin  Miller. 

2.  George  Ross. 

3.  Thomas  Park. 

4.  George  McCully. 

5.  James  Black. 

6.  John  Evans. 

7.  Henry  Eppley. 

8.  William  Craig. 


202  APPENDIX. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE 

FOUKTH   PENNSYLVANIA  EEGIMENT 

In  the  Regular   Continental  Army. 


Field  Officers: 


Colonel, 

Lieutenant-  Colonel,  . 
Major, 

Adjutant, 
Quartermaster, 
Surgeon, 
Chaplain, 
Paymaster,  . 

Captains  : 

1.  Thomas  Robinson. 

2.  Thomas  Church. 

3.  John  Lacey. 

4.  Persifor  Frazer. 

5.  James  Taylor. 

6.  Caleb  North. 

7.  James  Moore. 

8.  Frederick  Vernon. 

Second  Lieutenants : 

1.  William  Moulder. 

2.  Charles  C.  Beatty. 

3.  Michael  Ryan. 

4.  Isaac  Seely. 

5.  Thomas  Boude. 

6.  Alexander  McClintock. 

7.  Robert  Gregg. 

8.  Charles  McHenry. 


ANTHONY  WAYNE. 
FRANCIS  JOHNSTON. 
NICHOLAS  HAUSSEGGER. 


Staff: 


MICHAEL  RYAN. 
JOHN  HARPER. 
SAMUEL  KENNEDY. 
DAVID  JONES. 
JAMES  HUNTER. 

First  Lieutenants: 

1.  John  Christie. 

2.  James  R.  Reid. 

3.  Samuel  Smith. 

4.  Benjamin  Bartholomew. 

5.  Michael  Kimmell. 

6.  Joseph  Potts. 

7.  John  Williamson. 

8.  Alexander  Johnston. 

Ensigns  : 

1.  Thomas  Wallace. 

2.  Job  Yernon. 

3.  John  Barekley. 

4.  Levi  Griffith. 

5.  Ezekiel  Letts. 
G.  Jacob  Funk. 

7.  John  Wallace. 

8.  Joseph  Standley. 


APPENDIX.  203 

OFFICERS  OF  TPIE 

SIXTH  PENNSYLVANIA   REGIMENT 

In  the  Regular  Continental  Army. 


Colonel, 

Lieutenant  Colonel,  . 

Major, 

Adjutant, 
Quartermaster, 
Surgeon, 
Surgeon's  Mate, 
Chaplain,    . 

Captains : 

1.  Samuel  Hay. 

2.  Robert  Adams. 

3.  Abraham  Smith. 

4.  William  Rippey. 

5.  James  A.  Wilson. 

6.  David  Grier. 

7.  Moses  McClean. 

8.  Jeremiah  Talbot. 

Second  Lieutenants  : 

1.  Alexander  Parker. 

2.  Samuel  McFerren. 

3.  John  Alexander. 

4.  John  Brooks. 

5.  Robert  Wilson. 

6.  Abdiel  McAlister. 

7.  John  Hoge. 

8.  Alexander  Brown. 
Andrew  Irvine,  vice 

23d,  1776. 


Field  Officers  : 

.     WILLIAM  IRVINE. 

THOMAS  HARTLEY. 
.     JAMES  DUNLOP. 

Staff: 

.     JOHN  BROOKS. 

JAMES  CALDERWOOD. 
.     ROBERT  JOHNSTON. 

JOHN  MCDOWELL. 
.    WILLIAM  LINN. 

First  Lieutenants  : 

1.  John  Grier. 

2.  William  Bratton. 

3.  Robert  White. 

4.  William  Alexander. 

5.  Lewis  Bush. 

6.  John  McDowell. 

7.  John  Edie. 

8.  John  McDonald. 

Ensigns  : 

1.  William  Miller. 

2.  John  Murray. 

3.  Samuel  Montgomery. 

4.  William  Lusk. 

5.  Joseph  Culbertson. 

6.  William  Nichols. 

7.  Robert  Hopes. 

8.  William  Graham. 

John  Alexander,  promoted  March 


204  APPENDIX. 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  FIELD  OFFICERS 

OP  THK 

TWELVE   PENNSYLVANIA  EEGIMENTS 

In  the  Regular  Continental  Army,  January,  1777. 


FIRST  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     EDWARD  HAND. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .        .        JAMES  CHAMBERS. 
Major,   .....     JAMES  Ross. 

SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....  JOHN  PHILIP  DE  HAAS. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,  .  .  ANTHONY  JAMES  MORRIS. 
Major, JONATHAN  JONES. 

THIRD  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     JOSEPH  WOOD. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         THOMAS  CRAIG. 
Major, WILLIAM  BUTLER. 

FOURTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     LAMBERT  CADWALADER. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         DANIEL  BRODHEAD. 
Major,    .....     WILLIAM  WEST,  JR. 

FIFTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .         ...         .         .     ANTHONY  WAYNE. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         FRANCIS  JOHNSTON. 
Major,    .....     PERSIFOR  FRAZER. 


APPENDIX.  205 

SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, ROBERT  MAGAW. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         HENRY  BICKER. 
Major, JOHN  BEATTY. 

SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, WILLIAM  IRVINE. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         THOMAS  HARTLEY. 
Major, DAVID  GRIER. 

EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     AENEAS  MACKEY. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         GEORGE  WILSON. 
Major, RICHARD  BUTLER. 

NINTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, JAMES  IRVINE. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         GEORGE  NAGEL. 
Major,    .....     JOHN  PATTON. 

TENTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, JOSEPH  PENROSE. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,     .         .        JAMES  DUNLOP. 
Major, HENRY  BICKER. 

ELEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     RICHARD  HUMPTON. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         FRANCIS  GURNEY. 
Major, FRANCIS  MENTGES. 

TWELFTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     WILLIAM  COOKE. 
Lieutenant- Colon  el,      .         .         NEIGAL  GRAY. 
Major, JAMES  CRAWFORD. 


206  APPENDIX. 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  FIELD  OFFICERS 

OF  THE 

TWELVE  PENNSYLVANIA  REGIMENTS 

In  the  Regular  Continental  Army,  March  12th,  1777. 


FIRST  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     EDWARD  HAND. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .        .        JAMES  Ross. 

Major, HENRY  MILLER. 

9 

SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     JAMES  IRVINE. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         JONATHAN  JONES. 
Major, WILLIAM  WILLIAMS. 

THIRD  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, JOSEPH  WOOD. 

Lieutenant- Colon  el,      .         .         THOMAS  CRAIG. 
Major,    .....     JOSIAH  HARMAR. 

FOURTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, LAMBERT  CADWALADER. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         WILLIAM  BUTLER, 
Major,    .....     MARIEN  LAMAR. 

FIFTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     FRANCIS  JOHNSTON. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         PERSIFOR  FRAZER. 
Major,    .....     THOMAS  ROBINSON. 


APPENDIX.  207 

SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, EGBERT  MAGAW. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         HENRY  BICKER. 
Major, SAMUEL  BENEZET. 

SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel, WILLIAM  IRVINE. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         DAVID  GRIER. 
Major,    .....     SAMUEL  HAY. 

EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     DANIEL  BRODHEAD. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .        .        RICHARD  BUTLER. 
Major, STEPHEN  BAYARD. 

NINTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     ANTHONY  JAMES  MORRIS. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         GEORGE  NAGEL. 
Major,    .....     MATTHEW  SMITH. 

TENTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     JAMES  CHAMBERS. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .        ADAM  HUBLEY,  JR. 
Major, CALEB  NORTH. 

ELEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     RICHARD  HUMPTON. 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         FRANCIS  GURNEY. 
Major, FRANCIS  MENTGES. 

TWELFTH  REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  .....     WILLIAM  COOKE, 
Lieutenant- Colonel,      .         .         NEIGAL  GRAY. 
Major, JAMES  CRAWFORD. 


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INDEX. 


ADAMS,  JOHN,  attends  council  of  offi 
cers  at  Cambridge,  19 ;  comments 
on  the  misfortunes  of  the  army  in 
Canada,  97  ;  notifies  General  Gates 
of  his  appointment,  99. 

ADAMS,  Captain  ROBERT,  massacred 
at  Isle  aux  Noix,  95. 

ACKLAND,  Major  JOHN  DYKE,  157. 

ACKLAND,  Lady  HARRIET,  157. 

ALARM  posts  established  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  114;  troops  repair  to,  176. 

ALBANY,  arrival  of  Pennsylvania 
troops  at,  22 ;  General  Thomas  ar 
rives  at,  35;  General  Gates  arrives 
at,  99 ;  militia  arrive  at,  147 ;  Massa 
chusetts  troops  return  home  by  way 
of,  191. 

ALISON,  Surgeon  BENJAMIN,  177. 

ALLEN,  ETHAN,  capture  of  Ticonde- 
roga  by,  123 

ALLEN,  THOMAS,  killed  by  savages, 
145. 

ALLEN,  WILLIAM,  appointed  Captain 
of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  5 ;  biographical  sketch  of,  6  ; 
powder  in  charge  of,  captured,  45 ; 
member  of  council  of  war  at  Des- 
chambault,  47;  resignation  of,  138. 

AMMUNITION,  General  Gates  calls 
upon  Congress  for,  125;  supply  of, 
arrives  at  Ticonderoga,  126,  176. 

ANTELL,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  mem 
ber  of  council  of  war  at  Descham- 
bault,  47 ; 

ARMS,  measures  for  their  manufac 
ture,  3 ;  a  gunsmith  makes  twenty- 
five  at  Bedford,  4 ;  steps  for  their 
importation,  4;  confiscation  of,  at 
Philadelphia,  4. 

ARMSTRONG'S  British  regiment,  55. 

ARMY,  organization  of  the  regular 
Continental,  4 ;  short  enlistments 
therein,  5 ;  American  army  before 
Quebec,  29,  40 ;  control  and  direct 
ion  of  the  Northern,  34 ;  Lee  ap 
pointed  to  the  command  of  the  army 


in  Canada,  34 ;  John  Thomas  ap 
pointed  in  his  stead,  35 ;  retreat  of 
the  American  army  from  Quebec, 
44;  condition  of  the  American 
army  at  Sorel,  51,  81 ;  command  of 
A  merican  army  devolves  upon  Gen 
eral  Sullivan,  68 ;  retreat  of  the 
American  army  from  Sorel,  82; 
British  army  that  ascended  the  St. 
Lawrence,  86 ;  American  army  at 
Isle  aux  Noix,  92  ;  at  Crown  Point, 
97,  100 ;  General  Gates  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  army  in 
Canada,  99;  at  Ticonderoga,  109; 
composition  of  the  American  army 
that  retreated  from  Canada,  110; 
chills  and  fever  in  British  and 
American  armies,  115;  reinforce 
ments  for  the  American  army  at 
Ticonderoga,  128  ;  situation  of  the  t 
British  army,  144,  157 ;  interest  of 
Congress  and  the  Colonies  in  the 
Northern  army,  154;  estates  of  Ca 
nadians  who  followed  American, 
confiscated,  156;  strength  of  the 
British  army  in  Canada,  157 ;  Brit 
ish  army  embarks  upon  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  158;  British  army  occupies 
Crown  and  Chimney  Points,  173; 
advance  post  of  British  army  at 
Putnam's  Point,  182;  advance  of 
the  British  army  upon  Ticonderoga, 
184  ;  British  army  retires  from  be 
fore  Ticonderoga,  186;  British  army 
evacuates  Crown  Point  and  retreats 
to  Canada,  187  ;  British  army  quar 
ters  upon  inhabitants  along  the  So 
rel  and  St.  Lawrence  rivers,  188. 
ARNOLD  BENEDICT,  in  command  of 
army  before  Quebec,  18;  promotion 
of,  to  rank  of  brigadier-general,  28  ; 
is  relieved  and  repairs  to  Montreal, 
32 ;  sets  out  to  reinforce  the  post  at 
the  Cedars,  60 ;  his  pursuit  of  For- 
ster's  party,  61 ;  demands  the  sur 
render  of  the  prisoners  taken  by 


(211) 


212 


INDEX. 


Forster,62 ;  agrees  upon  an  exchange 
of  the  prisoners,  64;  retreats  from 
Montreal,  and  reaches  St.  Johns, 
89  ;  last  man  to  quit  the  shore,  90 ; 
accompanies  Generals  Schuyler  and 
Gates  to  Crown  Point,  100;  super 
intends  embarkation  of  troops  from 
Crown  Point,  110;  commands  a  bri 
gade  at  Mount  Independence,  111 ; 
prefers  charges  against  Colonel  Mo 
ses  Hazon,  126 ;  disrespectful  treat 
ment  of  the  court-martial  by,  126; 
his  arrest  requested,  but  refused, 
126;  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  fleet,  141 ;  suffers  from  a  slight 
attack  of  intermittent  fever,  143; 
conflict  of  authority  between,  and 
Captain  Wynkoop,  143 ;  sails  with 
the  fleet  from  Crown  Point,  143; 
posts  his  guard-boats  below  Wind 
mill  Point,  145;  sends  spies  fromVal- 
cour  Island  into  Canada,  150 ;  shifts 
his  quarters  from  the  Royal  Savage 
to  the  Congress,  150 ;  returns  to  Ti- 
conderoga,  160;  arrests  disaffected 
persons,  161 ;  effects  of,  destroyed 
on  board  the  Royal  Savage,  165 ; 
points  guns  on  board  the  Congress 
with  his  own  hands,  165  ;  at  Schuy- 
ler's  Island,  167;  portrait  of,  168; 
sends  his  papers  and  money  to  Gen 
eral  Schuyler,  174  ;  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  redoubts  on  the  flat 
ground  and  the  vessels,  174. 

ARTIFICERS,  sent  by  Washington  to 
Canada,  37 ;  another  company  is 
sent  from  New  York,  38. 

ARTILLERY,  Pennsylvania,  36,  111, 
137  ;  Massachusetts,  36,  49,  71, 111, 
137 ;  British,  85,  86,  87,  144,  158, 
163,  170;  Hesse  Hanau,  156,  159, 
163,  166,  170,  181. 

ASHLEY,  Colonel,  New  England  regi 
ment  of  militia  under,  reaches  Ti- 
conderoga,  179. 

ASSOCIATION,  articles  of,  adopted  in 
1774,  3. 

ASSOCIATORS,  formation  of  companies 
of,  in  Philadelphia,  2 ;  in  Berks 
County,  2 ;  clergy  preach  to,  2. 

AXES  sent  to  Ticonderoga,  113. 

BADLAM,  Captain  S.,  company  of  ar 
tillery  under,  at  Ticonderoga,  134. 

BANGOR  CHURCH,  vii,  2. 

BARBER  provided  at  Crown  Point, 
97. 


BARNER,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  in  com 
mand  of  Hessian  troops,  157. 

BARNET,  Surgeon,  177. 

BARRACKS  at  Philadelphia,  11 ;  at 
Fort  George,  25;  at  St.  Johns,  27. 

BARTON,  Rev.  THOMAS,  rector  of 
Bangor  Church,  2;  biographical 
sketch  of,  2. 

BASKINGRIDGE,  General  Leecaptured 
at,  190. 

BATTERIES  erected  at  Quebec,  31  ;  at 
Sorel,  82;  at  Mount  Independence, 
114;  at  Ticonderoga,  137,  177. 

BAUM,  FREDERICK,  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  of  Hessian  troops,  84,  85. 

BEAUJEU,  M.,  leads  a  party  for  the 
relief  of  Quebec,  31 ;  is  defeated, 
and  his  party  dispersed,  31. 

BEDEL,  TIMOTHY,  colonel  of  a  regi 
ment  furnished  by  New  Hamp 
shire,  at  the  call  of  Washington,  to 
reinforce  the  army  in  Canada,  20 ; 
their  march  for  Canada,  36 ;  or 
dered  to  the  Cedars,  54;  abandons 
his  post,  55;  is  court-martialed  and 
cashiered,  57  ;  regiment  of,  at  Ber- 
thier,  81 ;  regiment  of,  retreats  from 
Canada,  111;  regiment  of,  leaves 
Ticonderoga,  190;  joins  Washing 
ton's  army  above  Trenton  Falls, 
190. 

BEEF,  fresh,  furnished  to  American 
army  at  Ticonderoga,  116. 

BELLOWS,  Colonel,  New  England  re 
giment  of  militia  under,  reaches 
Ticonderoga,  179. 

BENNINGTON,  axes  sent  to  Ticonder 
oga  by  way  of,  113;  Connecticut 
militia  marches  by  way  of,  130; 
committee  at,  sends  militia  to  Ti 
conderoga,  178 ;  supplies  for  Ticon 
deroga  drawn  from,  187;  Connec 
ticut  troops  return  to  their  homes 
by  way  of,  191. 

BERKS  COUNTY,  Pennsylvania,  Com 
pany  of  Associators  raised  in,  by 
Jonathan  Jones,  2;  organization  of 
Committee  of  Safety  in,  3. 

BERTHIER,  guard  stationed  at,  67; 
American  troops  arrive  at,  after 
their  defeat  at  Three  Rivers,  77 ; 
escape  of  guard  from,  86. 

BIDDLE,  EDWARD,  3. 

BIGELOW,  Major  JOHN,  covers  re 
treat  with  artillery  squad  at  St. 
Johns,  89  ;  bearer  of  dispatches  to 
General  Burgoyne,  119. 


INDEX. 


213 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  of  Jona 
than  Jone?,  vi. ;  Thomas  Barton, 
2;  William  Irvine,  6;  William 
Allen,  6;  William  Williams,  7; 
Josiah  Harrnar,  7;  Marien  Lamar, 
8;  Thomas  Dorsey,  8;  Augustin 
Willet,  8;  William  Jenkins,  8; 
John  Bull,  8 ;  John  Philip  deiiaas, 
9;  James  Irvine,  10;  Am  lion y 
James  Morris,  11 ;  William  Max 
well,  18;  John  Thomas,  35;  Eb- 
enezer  Stevens,  36  ;  Sir  Guy  Carle- 
ton,  46 ;  John  Patterson,  55 ;  Wil 
liam  Thompson,  67  ;  Enoch  Poor, 
111;  Baron  deWoedtke,  110;  John 
Greaton,  115;  James  Brickett,  135; 
James  Reed,  138;  Edward  Wlg- 
gleaworth,  149 ;  William  Phillips, 
158;  Thomas  Hartley,  170;  Simon 
Fraser,  181 ;  John  Burgoyne,  194. 

BISCUITS  and  hard  bread  baked  at 
Forts  George  and  Ticonderoga,  24. 

BLISS,  Captain  THEODORE,  sent  to 
Quebec  as  hostage  for  the  prisoners 
taken  at  the  Cedars,  64. 

BLONDE,  British  frigate,  convoys  fleet 
from  Spithead,  85. 

BLOOMFIELD,  JOSEPH,  captain  in  Day 
ton's  New  Jersey  regiment,  178. 

BOATS,  description  of,  24;  crews  of 
American  vessels  escape  in,  from 
Quebec,  45;  Sullivan's  brigade  de 
tained  until  boats  could  be  built 
for  them,  48 ;  six  or  eight  con 
structed  per  diem  to  carry  the  army 
over  the  lakes,  50 ;  in  charge  of 
Major  Wood  at  Three  Rivers,  73; 
removed  by  Major  Wood  afier  the 
battle  of  Three 'Rivers,  76;  Amer 
ican  troops  drag  boats  up  the  Sorel 
river,  83;  scarcity  of,  88 ;  Schuyler 
orders,  to  be  sent  to  the  relief  of 
the  retreating  army,  96 ;  transpor 
tation  of  sick  in,  from  St.  Johns, 
88 ;  from  Isle  aux  Noix,  94 ;  from 
Crown  Point,  105 ;  reinforcements 
of  militia  carried  from  Skenesbor- 
ough  to  Ticonderoga  in,  130 ; 
distributed  among  British  troops, 
158. 

BOND,  WILLIAM,  regiment  of,  sent  to 
Canada,  37;  part  of  regiment  of,  at 
Berthier,  81  ;  regiment  of,  retreats 
from  Canada,  111 ;  death  of,  115  ; 
regiment  of,  leaves  Ticonderoga, 
190 ;  at  Morristown,  1 90. 

BONFIELD,  ACKLAM,  50. 


BOOM  thrown  across  Lake  Champlain, 
175. 

BOSTON,  gondola,  forms  part  of  the  fleet 
on  Lake  Champlain,  142. 

BOUNTY  offered  to  troops  for  enlist 
ment  in  Northern  army,  129. 

BOUQUET,  Colonel  HENRY,  9. 

BRANT,  JOSEPH,  commands  Indians 
at  the  Cedars,  55. 

BREAD,  fresh,  furnished  to  army  at 
Ticonderoga,  116. 

BREWER,  Colonel  SAMUEL,  regiment 
of,  marches  from  Boston  to  Ticon 
deroga,  136 ;  troops  under, cut  down 
trees  on  the  Crown  Point  road,  175  ; 
regiment  of,  inarches  for  home,  191. 

BREYMAN,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
Hessian  troops,  84. 

BRICKETT,  General  JAMES,  com 
mands  brigade  of  Massachusetts 
militia  at  Ticonderoga,  135 ;  bio 
graphical  sketch  of,  135;  brigade 
of,  repairs  old  French  redoubts,  177. 

BRIDGE  over  Little  river  burned,  89; 
built  over  Otter  creek  at  Rutland, 
131  ;  floating  bridge  built  between 
Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Indepen 
dence,  176. 

BRIGADES,  army  at  Ticonderoga  di 
vided  into,  111. 

BROWN,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  member 
of  council  of  war  at  Quebec,  42;  at 
Deschambault,  47. 

BROWNSON,  Colonel,  New  England 
regiment  of  militia  under,  reaches 
Ticonderoga,  179. 

BRUNEL,  Captain,  commands  British 
frigate  Blonde,  85 

BRUNSWICK,  Duke  of,  sends  troops  to 
America,  84. 

BRUNSWICK  troops,  157,  158,  159;  at 
Three  Rivers,  74 ;  arrive  at  Que 
bec,  84,  157  ;  garrison  Quebec,  85 ; 
march  to  St.  Johns,  87;  at  St. 
Johns  and  La  Prairie,  144,  145. 

BUEL,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  member 
of  council  of  war  at  Deschambault, 
47. 

BULL,  Colonel  JOHN,  8; 

BURGOYNE,  Lieutenant -General, 
JOHN,  in  command  of  British 
troops  at  Three  Rivers,  74 ;  sails 
from  Spithead,  85 ;  ascends  the 
Sorel  river,  87  ;  copy  of  Declaration 
of  Independence  sent  to,  118;  quar- 
te;s  at  Chamblee,  144;  moves  up  to 
Isle  aux  Noix,  158  ;  embarks  on 


214 


INDEX. 


Lake  Champlain,  159;  advocates 
attack  upon  Ticonderoga,  191 ;  re 
turns  to  England,  194;  is  in  great 
disfavor  with  the  Government  on 
account  of  the  retreat,  194;  bio 
graphical  sketch  of,  194  ;  portrait 
of,  J94;  is  refused  an  audience  of 
the  King,  195. 

BURR,  AARON,  44. 

BURRELL,  CHARLES,  Colonel  of  a 
regiment  furnished  by  Connecticut 
at  the  call  of  Washington  to  rein 
force  the  army  in  Canada,  20; 
reaches  the  lakes  with  his  regiment, 
36;  reinforces  General  Thomas  at 
Deschambault  with  part  of  his  regi 
ment,  47 ;  member  of  council  of  war 
at  Deschambault.  47;  part  of  regi 
ment  of,  at  Berth ier,  81  ;  regiment 
of,  retreats  from  Canada,  111  j  is 
sent  homesick,  115;  regiment  of, 
forms  part  of  the  permanent  garri 
son  of  Ticonderoga,  1 88. 

BUTTERFIELD,  ISAAC,  left  in  com- 
mand  of  the  post  at  the  Cedars,  55; 
surrenders  the  post,  57 ;  is  court- 
martialed  and  cashiered,  57. 

BUTTON  MOULD  BAY,  American  fleet 
arrives  at,  144 ;  galley  Congress, 
and  gondolas  burned  at,  169. 

CAMP  laid  out  in  the  French  lines, 
109  ;  on  Mount  Independence,  113. 

CAMPBELL,  Colonel,  member  of  coun 
cil  of  war  at  Quebec,  42;  at  Des 
chambault,  47. 

CANADA,  solicitude  for  the  situation 
of  affairs  in,  16;  Schnyler  sent  to  oc 
cupy,  16;  New  Hampshire,  Mas 
sachusetts,  and  Connecticut  furnish 
one  regiment  each  to  reinforce  the 
the  army  in,  at  the  call  of  Wash 
ington,  20 ;  journey  to,  21  ;  main 
highway  into,  24  ;  Congress  ^ends  a 
committee  to,  33 ;  clergy  of,  hos 
tile  to  American  cause,  33 ;  rein 
forcements  for  army  in,  19,  35,  38, 
39. 

CANADIANS,  disposed  to  be  neutral, 
16;  party  of,  assemble  for  the  re 
lief  of  Quebec,  31 ;  feeling  of,  to 
ward  the  American  cause,  38; 
Carleton  compels  tho^e  who  ac 
cepted  commissions  from  Congress 
to  burn  them  in  public,  156  ;  Carle- 
ton  confiscates  estates  of  those  who 
followed  the  American  army,  156  ; 


those  who  had  sympathized  with 
the  American  cause  compelled  to 
do  penance,  156;  land  on  Three- 
Mile  Point,  185. 

CAPTAIN,  pay  of,  8. 

CARILLON,  old  fort  Ticonderoga  orig 
inally  called,  108. 

CARLETON,  Sir  GUY,  appointed  com 
mander  of  the  British  forces  in 
Canada,  16;  his  escape  from  Mon 
treal,  17  ;  merciful  proclamation 
by,  45  ;  biographical  sketch  of,  46 ; 
address  by,  to  the  prisoners,  46  ;  at 
Three  Rivers,  75 ;  establishes  his 
headquarters  at  Chamblee,  87 ;  por 
trait  of,  112;  reply  of,  to  dispatches 
from  Congress,  "119;  subsequent 
order  to  his  troops,  120 ;  head 
quarters  at  Chamblee,  144;  com 
missions  Sir  John  Johnson  to  raise 
two  battalions,  147  ;  forms  an  alli 
ance  with  the  Caughnawaga  and  St. 
Francis  Indians,  156 ;  compels  Ca 
nadians  to  burn  commissions  from 
Congress,  156  ;  confiscates  estates  of 
Canadians  who  followed  the  Amer 
ican  army,  156  ;  in  command  of 
British  fleet,  165 ;  receives  slight 
wound,  170;  releases  General 
Waterbury,  and  the  crew  of  the 
galley  Washington,  171  ;  transfers 
his  headquarters  from  the  schooner 
Maria  to  Crown  Point,  181  ;  re 
leases  American  prisoners,  182 ; 
goes  to  his  winter  residence  at  Que 
bec,  191  ;  despatch  sent  to,  by  Lord 
George  Germain,  192  ;  in  great  dis 
favor  with  the  Government  on  ac 
count  of  the  retreat,  194. 

CARLETON,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  in 
command  of  Indians,  157  ;  body  of 
Indians  under,  land  on  Valcour 
island,  165. 

CARLETON,  British  schooner,  162, 163, 
165,  166,  168,  170. 

CARLETON'S  British  regiment,  86, 
119. 

CARPENTERS  sent  to  Skcnesborough, 
112;  prostration  of,  151. 

CARROLL,  CHARLES,  of  Carrollton. 
member  of  the  committee  >cent  by 
Congress  to  Canada,  33. 

CARROLL,  Eev.  JOHN,  accompanies 
the  committee  of  Congress  to  Can 
ada,  33;  returns  home,  34. 

CARTRIDGE-BOXES,  manufacture  of,  at 
Bedford,  4. 


INDEX. 


215 


CARTRIDGE-PAPER,  General  Gates 
calls  upon  Congress  for,  125 ;  sup 
ply  of,  reaches  Ticonderoga,  126. 

CAVENDISH'S,  Lord,  British  regiment, 
86. 

CEDARS,  American  troops  sent  to,  54 ; 
reinforcements  sent  to,  55;  invested 
by  British  troops  under  Captain 
Forster,  56 ;  surrender  of,  by  But- 
terlield,  57 ;  barbarous  treatment  of 
the  prisoners,  59;  remonstrance  of 
Congress,  118;  answer  of  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  thereto,  119. 

CHAMBLEE,  death  of  General  Thomas 
at,  53 ;  desertions  from,  82;  retreat 
ing  army  arrives  at,  83;  General 
Carleton  establishes  his  headquar 
ters  at,  87 ;  American  troops  retreat 
from,  88;  headquarters  of  General 
Carleton  at,  144  ;  road  from,  to  Isle 
aux  Noix  repaired  by  the  British, 
156 ,  British  vessels  and  bateaux 
constructed  at,  161. 

CHASE,  SAMUEL,  member  of  com 
mittee  sent  by  Congress  to  Canada. 
33. 

CHASE,  Colonel,  New  England  re 
giment  of  militia  under,  reaches 
Ticonderoga,  179. 

CHILLS  and  fever  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  115. 

CHIMNEY  POINT,  Arnold  and  party 
arrive  at,  170 ;  British  army  occu 
pies,  173. 

CHRIST  CHURCH,  14. 

CHURCH,  Captain  THOMAS,  company 
of,  sent  to  Canada,  39  ;  scout  under, 
returns  to  Ticonderoga  from  Crown 
Point,  160. 

CLERGY  of  Pennsylvania  preach  to 
Associators,  2;  of  Canada  hostile  to 
American  cause,  33. 

CLINTON,  Sir  HENRY,  arrives  at  New 
York  city,  23. 

CLOTHING,  scarcity  of,  on  board  the 
fleet,  148 ;  army  at  Ticonderoga  in 
need  of,  152 ;  sent  by  Congress  to 
Ticonderoga,  152. 

CLYMER,  GEORGE,  member  of  com 
mittee  of  Congress  to  visit  North 
ern  army,  106;  comments  on  con 
dition  of  sick  at  Fort  George,  1 06 ; 

COMMAND  of  Northern  army,  34; 
disputed  between  Generals  Schuy- 
ler  and  Gates,  99;  Congress  settles 
in  favor  of  General  Schuyler,  100. 

COMMISSION  before  the  Declaration  of 


Independence,  208;  after  the  De 
claration  of  Independence,  209. 

COMMISSIONERS  OF  CONGRESS  sent  to 
Canada,  33;  believe  retreat  to  St. 
Johns  and  Isle  aux  Noix  inevitable, 
48 ;  order  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  to  reinforce  General  Ar 
nold,  60. 

CONCORD  and  LEXINGTON,  the  courier 
who  brought  the  news  of  the  con 
flict  at,  1 ;  his  arrival  at  Philadel 
phia,  1 ;  the  uprising  throughout 
the  country  after  the  battle  of,  1 ; 
spread  of  news  from,  throughout 
the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  2. 

CONGRESS  appoints  a  committee  to 
examine  the  papers  of  Major  Skene, 
4  ;  resolves  to  raise  a  regular  army, 
5 ;  orders  Pennsylvania  regiments 
to  be  raised,  5,  6  ;  appoints  officers 
for  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment^  ;  orders  Pennsylvania  troops 
to  Virginia,  14;  anxiety  of,  for  the 
co-operation  of  Canada,  16  ;  Schuy 
ler  urges,  to  send  reinforcements  to 
Canada,  17 ;  sends  Pennsylvania 
and  New  Jersey  troops  to  Canada, 
18 ;  approves  of  Washington's  course 
in  sending  troops  to  Canada,  20 ; 
sends  a  committee  to  Canada,  33 ; 
Northern  army  under  direction  of, 
34;  General  Charles  Lee  ordered 
by,  to  command  of  army  in  Canada, 
34 ;  order  revoked,  and  General 
John  Thomas  appointed,  35 ;  St. 
Clair's  regiment  ordered  by,  to 
Canada,  36 ;  Pennsylvania  regi 
ment  of  artillery  raised  by  order  of, 
36  ;  orders  six  regiments  to  be  sent 
from  Washington's  army  to  Canada, 
38  ;  change  in  the  policy  of,  toward 
Canada,  38 ;  letters  of  committee 
of,  to,  51 ;  without  credit  in  Canada, 
52;  investigates  the  cruelties  after 
the  Cedars,  59 ;  resolutions  of,  reach 
Sorel,  71 :  sends  last  penny  of  hard 
money  to  Canada,  71 ;  resolves  to 
reinforce  the  army  in  Canada  with 
militia  and  Indians,  72 ;  is  recon 
ciled  to  the  evacuation  of  Canada, 
90  ;  committee  of,  inquires  into  the 
causes  of  the  disasters  in  Canada, 
91 ;  resolves  of,  concerning  Canada 
transmitted  to  Washington,  98 ; 
appoints  General  Gates  to  the  com 
mand  in  Canada,  99 ;  settles,  dis 
puted  command  between  Generals 


216 


INDEX. 


Schuyler  and  Gates,  100;  General 
Sullivan  tenders  his  resignation  to, 
104;  is  unwilling  to  accept  Sulli 
van's  resignation,  105;  committee 
of,  report  upon  condition  of  sick  at 
Fort  George,  106 ;  requests  Gover 
nor  Cooke  to  send  ship-carpenters 
to  Skenesborough,  113;  officers  at 
Ticonderoga  remonstrate  with,  for 
want  of  mail  facilities,  116;  estab 
lishes  a  general  postal  system,  117; 
sends  Declaration  of  Independence 
and  remonstrance  against  the  treat 
ment  of  prisoners  after  the  Cedars 
to  Burgoyne,  118;  General  Gates 
calls  upon,  for  ordnance  and  am 
munition,  125 ;  Arnold  appeals 
from  decision  of  court-martial  to, 
127  ;  Washington,  by  authority  of, 
orders  Continental  regiments  from 
Boston  to  Ticonderoga,  135 ;  ap 
points  Eeed  and  St.  Clair  Briga 
dier-Generals,  138 ;  sends  cloth 
ing  to  Ticonderoga,  152;  money 
sent  by,  to  General  Schuyler,  154; 
solicitude  of,  for  Northern  army, 
154. 

CONGRESS,  row  galley,  joins  the  Amer 
ican  fleet  at  Valcour  Island,  150; 
Arnold  has  his  quarters  on,  150; 
engages  in  action  with  the  British 
fleet,  164, 168;  suffers  severely,  165; 
council  of  war  held  on,  166  ;  brings 
up  the  rear  in  the  retreat  of  the 
fleet,  167;  at  Schuyler's  Island,  167, 
burned,  169. 

CONNECTICUT,  regiment  of,  under  Col 
onel  Burrell  sent  to  Ticonderoga, 
20;  troops  of,  join  General  Thomas 
at  DeschambauU,  47 ;  troops  of,  at 
Sorel,  80 ;  troops  of,  at  Berthier,  81 ; 
troops  of,  retreat  from  Canada,  111 ; 
ship-carpenters  from,  sent  to  Skenes 
borough,  113;  measures  taken  in, 
for  sending  reinforcements  to  Ti 
conderoga,  128;  bounty  offered  in, 
for  enlistments  in  Northern  army, 
129 ;  Dr.  John  Ely  sent  by,  to  Ti 
conderoga,  129;  militia  of,  march 
by  the  way  of  Bennington  to  Skenes 
borough,  130;  regiments  of  militia 
under  Colonels  Heman  Swift,  and 
Samuel  Mott  arrive  at  Ticonderoga, 
134;  Burrell's  regiment  of,  forms 
part  of  the  permanent  garrison  of 
Ticonderoga,  188;  troops  of,  leave 
Ticonderoga,  190. 


CONNECTICUT,  gondola,  forms  part  of 
the  American  fleet  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  142. 

CONNER, Lieutenant- Colonel  SAMUEL, 
detachment  under,  sent  down  east 
ern  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  187. 

COOKE,  Gov.  NICHOLAS,  of  Rhode 
Island,  sends  ship-carpenters  to  Ti 
conderoga,  113. 

CORNWALLIS,  Lord,  British  army  un 
der  reaches  the  Delaware,  189. 

CORYELL'S  FERRY,  British  army  ar 
rives  at,  189. 

COUNCIL  of  WAR  held  at  Quebec,  42 ; 
at  Deschambault,  47 ;  at  St.  Ann's, 
63;  at  Sorel,  82;  at  St.  Johns,  89; 
at  Crown  Point,  102 ;  on  board  the 
Congress,  166. 

COURT-MARTIAL,  Bedel  and  Butter- 
field  tried  by,  at  Ticonderoga,  57  ; 
Colonel  Poor  president  of,  at  Ticon 
deroga,  126  ;  requests  arrest  of  Ar 
nold,  but  is  refused,  127;  deserters 
and  other  offenders  tried  by,  at  Ti 
conderoga,  140. 

CRAIG,  Sir  JAMES  H.,  troops  under, 
capture  a  party  of  the  Sixth  Penn 
sylvania  Regiment,  101 ;  receives 
Major  Bigelow  bearing  dispatches 
from  Congress  for  General  Bur 
goyne,  119;  bearer  of  flag  of  truce 
to  Ticonderoga,  171. 

CROWN  POINT,  retreat  of  American 
army  to,  96 ;  distressing  condition 
of  American  troops  at,  97 ;  mea 
sures  for  the  relief  of  the  army  at, 
98;  council  of  war  held  at,  102; 
evacuation  of,  occasions  alarm  arcl 
dissat'sfaction,  103;  removal  of  sick 
from,  to  Fort  George.  105  ;  effective 
force  at,  106  ;  embarkation  of  troops 
from,  106,  110 ;  garrison  at,  in  May 
1775,  123  ;  false  report  of  action  be 
tween  the  fleets  reaches,  146  ;  rem 
nant  of  American  fleet  at,  170;  re 
treat  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  from,  171;  British  army 
occupies,  173;  trees  cut  down  on 
road  to,  175;  Carleton  transfers  his 
headquarters  to,  181 ;  Major  Gen 
eral  Riedesel  visits,  181;  British 
troops  evacuate,  187. 

CULBERTSON,  Lieutenant  JOSEPH, 
massacred  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  95. 

DACRES,  Lieutenant,  commands  Brit 
ish  schooner  Carleton,  162. 


INDEX. 


217 


DALRYMPLE,  Captain,  commands 
British  frigate  Juno,  85. 

DAVIS,  BENJAMIN,  elected  captain  of 
the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
7  ;  sketch  of,  8  ;  sent  with  his  com 
pany  to  join  the  forces  against 
Three  Rivers,  70 ;  takes  part  in  the 
battle  of  Three  Rivers,  74. 

DAVIS,  Captain,  commands  row-galley 
Lee,  145. 

DAYTON,  Colonel  ELIAS,  regiment  of, 
sent  to  Canada,  39 ;  reports  Indians 
on  the  march  for  the  Mohawk,  146  ; 
regiment  of,  marches  to  Ticonde- 
roga,  178. 

DE  HAAS,  JOHN  PHILIP,  appointed 
Colonel  of  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  9 ;  biographical  sketch 
of,  9 ;  reaches  the  lakes  with  part 
of  his  regiment,  36 ;  sent  by  the 
Commissioners  of  Congress  to  rein 
force  General  Arnold  after  the  affair 
at  the  Cedars,  60;  puisnes  Forster's 
party,  61 ;  opposes  Arnold's  plan 
for  attacking  the  Indians,  63;  re 
fuses  to  burn  the  Indian  town  of 
Canassadaga,  65 ;  leaves  Montreal 
for  Sorel,  68  ;  regiment  of,  at  Sorel, 
80 ;  regiment  of,  retreats  from  Can 
ada,  110;  letter  from,  upon  the 
condition  of  the  troops  under  his 
command,  153;  time  of  enlistment 
of  regiment  of,  expires,  155 ;  regi 
ment  of,  unanimously  resolves  to 
remain  at  Ticonderoga,  155;  com 
mendation  by,  of  his  officers,  190. 

DE  HART,  Major  WILLIAM,  in  com 
mand  of  a  detachment  of  Third 
New  Jersey  Regiment  that  resolved 
to  stay  at  Ticonderoga  after  their 
term  of  enlistment  had  expired, 
156. 

DESCHAMBAULT,  stand  of  Americans 
at,  47 ;  council  of  war  held  at,  47  ; 
Connecticut  troops  at,  inoculate 
themselves,  48 ;  evacuation  of,  48 ; 
a  skirmish  below,  49. 

DESERTERS,  trial  of,  at  Ticonderoga, 
140. 

DESERTIONS,  26,  82. 

DE  WOEDTKE,  FREDERICK  WILLIAM, 
Baron,  at  St  Johns,  66;  death  of,  110. 

DICKENSON,  Captain,  commands  sloop 
Enterprise,  142. 

DIVINE  SERVICE  at  Christ  Church, 
14;  ordered  to  be  held  in  every 
brigade  at  Ticonderoga,  139. 


DORSEY,  THOMAS,  appointed  Captain 
of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  5 ;  sketch  of,  8 ;  movements 
of  company  of,  21,  23. 

DOUGLAS,  Captain,  commands  British 
ship  Isis,  161. 

DUNLOP,  Major  JAMES,  in  command 
of  detachment  of  Sixth  Pennsylva 
nia  Regiment.,  187. 

DUNMORE,  Lord,  movements  of,  in 
Virginia,  13. 

DUTCHESS  County,  New  York,militia 
of,  called  out,  146. 

DUQUESNE,  Fort,  expedition  against, 

9. 
I 

j  EDWARD,  Fort,  First  Pennsylvania 
regiment  arrive  at,  25 ;  militia 
from,  ordered  into  Try  on  county, 
178. 

EHRENKROOK,  Lieutenant-Colonel  in 
command  of  Hessian  troops,  157. 

ELMORE,  Colonel,  member  of  council 
of  war  at  Quebec,  42  ;  at  Descham- 
bault,  47  ;  regiment  of,  stationed  on 
the  Mohawk  river,  147. 

ELPHINSTONE'S  British  regiment,  86. 

ELY,  Dr.  JOHN,  sent  by  Connecticut 
council  of  safety  to  Ticonderoga, 
129. 

ENGINEERS  sent  from  New  York,  38. 

ENTERPRISE,  ploop,  170 ;  forms  part 
of  the  American  fleet  on  Lake 
Champlain,  142;  captured  by  Gen 
eral  Arnold  from  the  British  in 
May,  1775,  142  ;  boat's  crew  of,  at 
tacked,  145. 

EPITAPH  of  Pennsylvaniatrcops mas 
sacred  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  96. 

EQUIPMENT  of  the  Pennsylvania  regi 
ments,  12. 

EUSTIS,  Captain,  artillery  company 
of,  at  Three  Rivers,  49,  71  ;  com 
pany  of,  retreats  from  Canada,  111. 

EVELYN'S  British  regiment,  86. 

EXMOUTH,  Viscount,  167. 

FAY,  Lieutenant,  in  command  of 
He^se-Hanau  artillery,  ]66. 

FELLING- AXES  sent  to  Ticonderoga, 
113. 

FERGUSON,  Captain,  74. 

FIFTH  PENNSYLVANIA  REGIMENT, 
organization  of,  for  Continental 
army,  6  ;  sent  to  New  York,  39. 

FIFTY-THIRD  British  regiment,  86. 

FIFTY-NINTH  British  regiment,  158. 


218 


INDEX. 


FIRE-SHIPS  constructed  at  Quebec,  40. 

FIRST  NEW  JERSEY  REGIMENT,  or 
dered  to  Canada,  39  ;  sent  to  Three 
Rivers,  71  ;  retreats  from  Canada, 
110 ;  transferred  to  Pennsylvania 
brigade  137 ;  enlistment  of,  expires, 
155  ;  greater  part  of,  refuses  to  re 
main,  155;  march  for  their  homes, 
188. 

FIRST  PENNSYLVANIA  REGIMENT, 
called  out  by  Congress,  5  ;  Captains 
of,  5  ;  field  officers  of,  appointed,  8, 
9  ;  three  companies  of,  ordered  to 
Virginia,  14;  order  revoked,  18; 
ordered  to  Canada,  18  ;  route  of,  to 
tiie  Hudson,  21  ;  transported  on 
sleds  to  Albany,  22 ;  up  the  Hud 
son,  25 ;  portion  of,  reach  Qnebec, 
29  ;  rifle  company  of  John  Nelson 
attached  to,  36' ;  engaged  in  skir 
mish  at  Deschambuult,  49 ;  sent 
by  commissioners  of  Congress  to 
reinforce  General  Arnold  after  the 
affair  at  the  Cedars,  60 ;  reach 
Fort  St.  Ann,  61  ;  embark  in  pur 
suit  of  Forster's party,  61  ;  fallback 
to  LaChine,  65 ;  General  Thomp 
son  waits  impatiently  for  return  of, 
to  Sorel,  68  ;  officers  and  men  of, 
prostrated  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  93  ;  ar 
rives  at  Ticonderoga,  106  ;  condi 
tion  of,  described  by  Colonel  De- 
Haas,  153 ;  enlistment  of,  expires, 
155 ;  unanimously  resolve  to  re 
main  at  Ticonderoga,  155  ;  Captain 
Jonathan  Jones  appointed  Major 
of,  180  ;  Major  Anthony  James 
Morris  appointed  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  of,  180;  embark  for  their 
homes,  188  ;  march  to  Pluckamin 
in  New  Jersey,  189;  officers  of,  199. 

FLEET,  AMERICAN,  ship-carpenteis 
sent  up  from  the  seaboard  to  Skene.s- 
borough  to  construct,  112  ;  progress 
in  construction  of,  141  ;  General 
Arnold  assigned  to  the  command 
of,  141  ;  General  David  Waterbury 
appointed  second  officer  of,  141  ; 
Pennsylvania  troops  drafted  to  serve 
as  seamen  and  marines  on  board 
of,  142 ;  portion  of,  sails  down  to 
Crown  Point,  142 ;  vessels  of,  re 
ceive  their  armament  at  Ticon 
deroga,  142;  sails  from  Crown 
Point,  143 ;  anchors  at  Willsbo- 
rough,  143;  returns  to  Button 
Mould  Bay,  144 ;  reaches  Schuy- 


ler's  Island,  144;  reaches  Wind 
mill  Point,  144 ;  guard-boats  of, 
posted  below  Windmill  Point, 
145;  row-galley  Lee  joins  the, 
at  Windmill  Point,  145;  boat's 
crew  from,  attacked,  145 ;  opens 
a  cannonade  on  the  woods,  146 ; 
false  alarm  of  action  occasioned  by, 
146  ;  anchors  at  Isle  la  Motte,  148  ; 
sickness  on  board  of,  148  ;  gondola 
Philadelphia  joins  the,  at  Isle  la 
Motte,  148;  arrives  at  bay  St. 
Amand,  149  ;  is  overtaken  there  by 
an  equinoctial  gale,  149;  anchors 
behind  Valcour  Island,  150  ;  row- 
galleys  Trumbull,  Congress,  and 
Washington  join  the,  at  Valcour 
Island,  150  ;  divided  into  three  di 
visions,  151  ;  reception  of  news  of 
action  between  American  and  Brit 
ish  fleets  at  Ticonderoga,  159,  160; 
arrival  of  remnant  of,  at  Ticonde 
roga,  160  ;  action  between  Ameri 
can  and  British  fleets,  164;  skillful 
retreat  of,  167 ;  remnant  of,  at  Crown 
Point,  170. 

FLEET,  BRITISH, construction  of,  161 ; 
composition  of,  162 ;  commanded 
by  Captain  Thomas  Pringle,  163 ; 
comes  to  anchor  below  Isle  la 
Motte,  163  ;  anchors  between  Long 
and  Grand  Islands,  164;  action  be 
tween  British  and  American  fleets, 
164 ;  movements  of,  supervised  by 
Sir  Guy  Carleton,  165  ;  anchors  off 
Crown  Point,  173  ;  retreats  down 
the  lake  to  St.  Johns,  187. 

FLOATING  BRIDGE  built  between  Ti 
conderoga  and  Mount  Independ 
ence,  176. 

FORBES,  General  JOHN,  expedition 
under,  against  Fort  Duquesne,  9. 

FORSTER,  Captain  GEORGE,  com 
mands  British  forces  at  the  Cedars, 
55  ;  Butterfield  surrenders  the  post 
to,  57 ;  enters  into  a  cartel  with 
General  Arnold,  64  ;  retreats  above 
the  Cedars,  65. 

FORTY-SEVENTH  British  Regiment, 
86,  101,  119,  158,  171. 

FOURTH  PENNSYLVANIA  REGIMENT, 
organization  of,  for  Continental 
army,  6 ;  sent  to  Canada,  39 ;  at 
battle  of  Three  Rivers,  73  ;  arrives 
at  Ticonderoga,  106  ;  forms  part  of 
the  permanent  garrison  of  Ticonde 
roga,  188  ;  officers  of,  202. 


INDEX. 


219 


FRANKLIN,  BENJAMIN,  member  of 
the  committee  sent  by  Congress  to 
Canada,  33  ;  bis  arrival  at  Mon 
treal  and  return  home,  34. 

FRASP;R,  General  SIMON,  in  command 
of  British  forces  at  Three  Rivers, 
74,  86 ;  occupies  Isle  aux  Noix, 
144 ;  advances  to  the  river  Colte, 
157 ;  embarks  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  159  ;  van  brigade  under,  ad 
vances  to  Putnam's  Point,  181; 
biographical  sketch  of,  181. 

FRASER,  Captain,  body  of  Indians 
and  Canadians  under,  advance  up 
the  west  shore  of  Lake  Cbamplain, 
165. 

FRAZER,  Captain  PERSIFOR,  arrives 
with  his  company  at  Tieonderoga, 
107. 

FRENCH  LINES,  Pennsylvania  troops 
arrive  at,  25  ;  original  construction 
of,  109 ;  Pennsylvania  regiments 
encamped  within,  109  ;  description 
of  fortifications  about,  137;  Captain 
Romans'  company  of  artillery  en 
camped  within,  ]37;  artillery  com 
panies  under  Captain  Ebenezer  Ste 
vens  encamped  within,  137. 

GANSEVOORT,  Colonel  PETER,  in  com 
mand  at  Fort  George,  111. 

GATES,  General  HORATIO,  appointed 
to  command  of  the  army  in  Can 
ada,  99  ;  disputes  command  of  Gen 
eral  Schuyler,  100 ;  General  Sulli 
van  takes  offense  at  the  appoint 
ment  of,  104 ;  returns  to  Ticcnde- 
roga,  106 ;  calls  upon  Congress  for 
ordnance  and  ammunition,  125  ;  re 
pairs  roads  from  Number  Four  to 
Skenesborough,  130 ;  complains  of 
inoculation,  133  ;  portrait  of,  140  ; 
causes  the  arrest  of  Captain  Wyn- 
koop,  143;  issues  order  to  his 
troops,  146,  159,  173 ;  desires  all 
available  militia  to  be  sent  to  Fort 
George  and  Skenesborough,  147 ; 
directs  the  fleet  to  be  divided  into 
three  divisions,  151;  money  taken 
by,  to  General  Schuyler,  154 ;  com 
mends  conduct  of  troops  at  Tieon 
deroga,  184,  186;  sends  Colonel 
Wigglesworth  to  ascertain  the  de 
signs  of  the  British,  188;  leaves 
Tieonderoga,  190. 

GEORGE,  Fort,  troops  at,  25,  36 ; 
hospital  established  at,  105 ;  Van 


Schaick's  and  Van  Dyke's  regi 
ments  stationed  at,  111 ;  comments 
of  Richard  Stockton  and  George 
Clymer  on  condition  of  sick  at, 
106;  fears  that  Indians  might  come 
in  by  146 ;  wounded  in  naval  action 
sent  to  hospital  at,  170. 

GERMAN  FLATS,  Schuyler  makes 
treaty  with  Indians  at,  72. 

GERMAIN,  Lord  GEORGE  sends  dis 
patch  to  General  Carleton,  192 ;  is 
greatly  displeased  at  the  news  of 
the  retreat  of  the  British  army, 
194. 

GORDON,  Brigadier  General,  killed  by 
Lieutenant  Whitcomb,  102;  brig 
ade  of,  encamped  on  the  road  from 
St.  Johns  to  La  Prairie,  145. 

GRANT,  Captain,  commands  gondola, 
Connecticut,  142. 

GREATON,  JOHN,  regiment  of,  sent  to 
Canada,  37  ;  regiment  of,  in  the 
hospital  at  St.  Johns,  81 ;  regiment 
of,  retreats  from  Canada,  111  ;  sick 
ness  of,  1 15 ;  biographical  sketch 
of,  115;  commands  the  first  brig 
ade  on  Mount  Independence,  142 ; 
regiment  of,  ordered  from  Mount 
Independence  to  Tieonderoga,  185 ; 
regiment  of,  leaves  Tieonderoga, 
190  ;  at  Morristown,  190. 

GREENE,  Captain  EBED,  sent  to  Que 
bec  as  hostage  for  the  prisoners 
taken  at  the  Cedars,  64. 

GRENADIERS,  British,  87,  144,  157, 
181,  186. 

GRIER,  DAVID,  promoted  to  Major 
of  Sixth  Pennsylvania  regiment, 
180. 

GRIER,  Lieutenant  JOHN,  captured 
by  the  British,  101. 

GRIMES,  Captain,  commands  gondola 
Jersey,  145. 

GUNPOWDER,  manufacture  of,  4, 125. 

HADLEY,  Massachusetts  troops  return 
home  by  way  of,  191. 

HALE,  Colonel,  New  England  regi 
ment  of  militia  under,  reaches  Ti 
eonderoga,  179. 

HANAU  REGIMENT,  85,  87,  158. 
|   HARMAR,  JOSIAH,  appointed  Captain 
of  the  First  Pennsylvania  regiment, 
5  ;    sketch  of,  7  ;    reaches  the  lakes 
with  his  company,  36. 

HARTLEY,  THOMAS,  appointed  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  of  the  Sixth  Penn- 


220 


INDEX. 


sylvania  regiment,  6  ;  takes  part  in 
the  battle  of  Three  Elvers,  73; 
comments  on  battle  of  Three 
Elvers,  77 ;  is  sent  to  reconnoitre 
the  enemy,  1  00 ;  stationed  at  Crown 
Point  with  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania 
regiment  as  the  outpost  of  the  army, 
107;  arrives  at  Ticonderoga  with 
the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  regiment 
from  Crown  Point,  160,  171 ;  bio 
graphical  sketch  of,  170. 

HARVEY,  Surgeon,  177. 

HAWLEY,  Captain,  commands  schoon 
er  Eoyal  Savage,  143. 

HAZEN,  Colonel  MOSES,  opposes  Ar 
nold's  plan  for  attacking  the  In 
dians,  63 ;  tried  by  court-martial 
at  Ticonderoga,  126. 

HEATH,  WILLIAM,  appointed  Briga 
dier-General,  5. 

HEIGHTS  OF  ABRAHAM,  battery  open 
ed  upon,  31. 

HENRY,  Fort,  9. 

HERRICK,  Captain,  captures  schooner 
Liberty  at  Skenesborough  in  May 
1875,  142. 

HESSE-HANAU  ARTILLERY,  156, 159, 
163,  166,  170,  181. 

HESSIAN  TROOPS,  157,  158,  159;  ar 
rive  at  Quebec,  85,  156 ;  march  to 
St.  Johns,  87 ;  at  St.  Johns  and  La 
Prairie,  144,  145. 

HOGE,  Lieutenant  JOHN,  made  pris 
oner  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  95. 

HOLMES,  Surgeon,  177. 

HOSPITAL,  opened  at  Montreal,  50  ; 
at  Lake  George,  105  ;  removal  of 
sick  from  Crown  Point  to,  105 ; 
comments  of  Eichard  Stockton  and 
George  Clymer  thereon,  106 ;  con 
dition  of  the  sick  at,  106;  sick  sol 
diers  from  the  fleet  sent  to,  148 ; 
wounded  in  naval  action  sent  to, 
170. 

HOWE,  Lord,  British  ship,  163. 

HOWE,  Sir  WILLIAM,  waits  anxiously 
to  hear  of  British  success  in  Canada, 
156 ;  British  army  under,  reaches 
the  Delaware,  189. 

HUDSON,  river,  free  from  ice,  38. 

HUGHES,  Lieutenant  PETER,  of  the 
First  Pennsylvania,  defeats  and  dis 
perses  a  party  under  Mr.  Beaujeu, 
31. 

HYDE,  Colonel  New  England  regi 
ment  of  militia  under,  reaches  Ti 
conderoga,  179. 


INDEPENDENCE,  DECLARATION  op"r 
received  at  Ticonderoga,  118;  copy 
of,  sent  to  General  Burgoyne,  118  ; 
answer  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton  there 
to,  119  ;  copy  of  commission  be 
fore,  208;  copy  of  commission  af 
ter,  209. 

INDIANS,  16,  54,  60,  87,  101, 128, 145, 
169,  174,  182 ;  expedition  against 
the  Delawares,  Wyandots,  and  Sbaw- 
nees,  9  ;  Mohawks,  and  Caughua- 
wagas  at  the  Cedars,  55 ;  party  of, 
defeat  Sherburne's  men  near  the 
Cedars,  58 ;  cruel  and  barbarous 
treatment  of  American  troops  by, 
59  ;  council  of,  64  ;  Indian  town  of 
Canassadaga  ordered  to  be  burned, 
65  ;  employment  of,  in  the  Ameri 
can  military  service,  72 ;  treaty 
with,  at  German  Flats,  72  ;  body 
of,  at  Three  Eivers,  74,  86  ;  massa 
cre  by,  of  Americans  at  Isle  ana: 
Noix,  95 ;  Indian  path  to  Point 
au  Fer,  96;  company  of  Mohican, 
at  Ticonderoga,  136 ;  reported  on 
the  march  to  the  Mohawk  river, 
146;  pursue  the  fleet  up  the  shore 
of  Lake  Champlain,  149 ;  Carleton 
forms  an  alliance  with  Caughna- 
waga,  and  St.  Francis,  at  Montreal, 
156 ;  force  of,  under  Lieutenant- Col 
onel  Carleton,  157;  body  of,  ascend 
Lake  Champlain  and  land  on  Val- 
cour  Island,  165;  ambush  the  bri 
dle-path  to  Crown  Point,  170;  land 
on  Three-Mile-Point,  185;  at  Put 
nam's  Point,  186. 

INFLEXIBLE,  British  ship,  162,  163, 
164,  168. 

INOCULATION,  prohibited,  29;  Con 
necticut  troops  inoculate  them 
selves  at  Deschambault,  48;  Gen 
eral  Thomas  complains  of,  53 ;  pro 
gress  of  reinforcements  retarded 
by,  131  ;  militia  undergo,  at  Num 
ber  Four,Williamstown,  Keene,and 
Claremont,  131  ;  general-order  re 
specting,  132  ;  Geneial  Gates  com 
plains  of,  133. 

IRVINE,  JAMES,  appointed  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  of  the  First  Pennsyl 
vania  Eegiment,  8  ;  biographical 
sketch  of,  10;  member  of  council 
of  war  at  Quebec,  42  ;  at  Descham 
bault,  47  ;  promoted  to  Colonel  of 
the  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Eegiment, 
180. 


INDEX. 


221 


IRVINE,  WILLIAM,  appointed  Colonel 
of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  6  ;  biographical  sketch  of,  6  ; 
regiment  of,  sent  to  Canada,  39 ; 
takes  part  in  the  battle  of  Three 
Rivers,  73 ;  taken  prisoner  at  Three 
Rivers,  76  ;  regiment  of,  at  Sorel, 
80  ;  regiment  of,  retreats  from 
Canada,  110;  regiment  of,  forms 
part  of  permanent  garrison  of  Ti 
conderoga,  188. 

Isis,  British  frigate,  arrives  at  Quebec, 
43,  161, 

ISLE  AUX  Noix,  retreat  to,  inevitable, 
48 ;  sick  sent  to,  88  ;  retreating 
American  army  arrives  at,  89  ;  col 
onial  troops  on,  92 ;  sickness  on 
93  ;  burial  of  the  dead  on,  93  ;  re 
moval  of  the  sick  from,  to  Crown 
Point,  94;  troops  of  the  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  Regiment  massacred 
;at,  95 ;  their  burial,  95  ;  retreat  of 
American  army  from,  96  ;  General 
Eraser  occupies,  144 ;  British  works 
erected  on,  144  ;  cannon  sent  to  be 
mounted  on,  145 ;  twentieth  and 
sixty-second  British  regiments  left 
on,  159 ;  road  from  Chamblee  to,  re 
paired  by  the  British,  166;  Colonel 
Wigglesworth  sent  to,  to  ascertain 
designs  of  the  enemy,  188. 

ISLE  AUX  TETE,  British  outpost  on, 
144. 

ISLE  LA  MOTTE,  retreat  of  American 
army  to,  96;  American  fleet  an 
chors  at,  148  ;  Arnold  stations  sen 
tinels  on,  150. 

JAILER,  British  frigate,  arrives  at 
Quebec  witli  gun-boats,  161. 

JAY,  JOHN,  letter  from,  about  the  fire- 
ship  at  Quebec,  41. 

JENKINS,  WILLIAM,  appointed  Cap 
tain  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Reg 
iment,  5  ;  sketch  of,  8. 

JERSEY,  gondola,  joins  the  fleet  at 
Windmill  Point,  145. 

JOHNSON  HALL,  147. 

JOHNSON,  Sir  JOHX,  reported  to  be 
on  the  march  to  the  Mohawk  river, 
147 ;  commissioned  to  raise  two 
battalions  by  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  147. 

JOHNSTON,  Surgeon  ROBERT,  177. 

JONES'  British  regiment,  86. 

JOSTES,  JONATHAN,  biographical 
sketch  of,  v. ;  organization  of  a  com 
pany  of  associators  by,  2;  ap 


pointed  Captain  of  the  First  Penn 
sylvania  Regiment,  5 ;  ordered, 
with  his  company,  to  Northampton 
county,  Virginia,  14 ;  order  re 
voked,  18 ;  marches,  with  his  com 
pany,  for  Canada,  21 ;  arrives  at 
Quebec,  29  ;  returns  to  Quebec  for 
valuable  papers  after  the  retreat, 
45  ;  a  murder  in  the  company  of, 
47;  sent  with  his  company  to  join 
the  forces  against  Three  Rivers,  70  ; 
takes  part  in  the  battle  of  Three 
Rivers,  74;  letter  from,  to  Major 
Morgan,  139;  promoted  to  major, 
180. 

JUNO,  frigate,  convoys  British  fleet 
from  Spithead,  85. 

KENNEDY,  Surgeon  SAMUEL,  177. 

KNOX,  HENRY,  two  companies  of  his 
regiment  of  artillery  sent  to  Can 
ada,  36 ;  is  sent  by  Washington  to 
Ticonderoga  for  ordnance,  123. 

LACEY,  Captain  JOHN,  company  of, 
sent  to  Canada,  39  ;  bearer  of  dis 
patches  from  Sullivan  to  Arnold,  69. 

LAMAR,  MARJEN,  appointed  Captain 
of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  5 ;  sketch  of,  8 ;  reaches  the 
lakes  with  his  company,  36. 

LA  PRAIRIE,  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  marches  to,  27  ;  British 
army  marches  by  way  of,  87 ;  Gen 
eral  Arnold  retreats  by  way  of,  89 ; 
German  troops  under  General 
Riedesel  at,  145. 

LEE,  General  CHARLES,  appointed 
Major-General,  5 ;  comments  on  ap 
pearance  of  Pennsylvania  troops, 
21 ;  pent  by  Washington  to  New 
York,  23;  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  army  in  Canada,  34 ; 
the  order  revoked,  and  he  is  sent  to 
command  the  Southern  depart 
ment,  35 ;  comments  on  removal  of 
ordnance  from  Ticonderoga,  124; 
captured  at  Baskingridge,  190; 
division  of,  under  Sullivan,  joins 
Washington's  army  above  Trenton 
Falls,  190. 

LEE,  row-galley,  joins  the  fleet  at 
Windmill  Point,  145. 

LE  MAITRE,  Captain,  bearer  of  dis 
patches,  192. 

LEVI,  POINT,  erection  of  batteries  on, 
31. 


222 


INDEX. 


LEWIS,  MORGAN,  Quarter-Master- 
General,  99. 

LEXINGTON  and  CONCORD,  the  cou 
rier  who  brought  the  news  of  the 
conflict  at,  1 ;  Ids  arrival  at  Phila 
delphia,  1 ;  the  uprising  through 
out  the  colonies  after  the  battle  of, 
1 ;  spread  of  news  from,  throughout 
the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  2. 

LIBERTY,  schooner,  150,  167,  170; 
forms  part  of  the  American  fleet  on 
Lake  Champlain,  142  ;  captured  at 
Skenesborough  by  Captain  Herrick, 
in  May,  1775,  142;  ordered  down 
the  lake,  143 ;  brought  to  by  shot 
from  the  Royal  Savage,  143. 

LIGHT  INFANTRY,  British,  87,  101, 
144,  157,  181,  186. 

LIGONIER'S,  British  regiment,  86. 

LINDSAY,  Captain,  commands  Brit 
ish  ship  Surprise,  43. 

LIVINGSTON,  Colonel,  member  of 
council  of  war  at  Deschambault, 
47. 

LOCKWOOD,  Major,  member  of  coun 
cil  of  war  at  Quebec,  42. 

LONGCROFT,  Lieutenant,  commands 
British  gondola  Loyal  Convert, 
162. 

LOYAL  CONVERT,  British  gondola, 
162,  163. 

LUNDY,  Mr.,  accompanies  Major 
Skene  to  Philadelphia,  4. 

LUSK,  Ensign  WILLIAM,  attacked  by 
Indians,  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  95. 

MACLEAN,  Colonel,  returns  to  Lon 
don,  146. 

MACLEAN'S  KOYAL  HIGHLAND  EMI 
GRANTS,  43,  86;  reported  to  be  on 
the  March  to  the  Mohawk  river, 
146. 

MAGAW,  EGBERT,  appointed  Colonel 
of  the  Fifth  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  6 ;  regiment  of,  sent  to  .New 
York,  39. 

MAIL  facilities,  want  of,  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  116. 

MANSFIELD,  Captain  SAMUEL,  com 
mands  gondola  New  Haven,  142. 

MARIA,  British  schooner,  ]62,  163, 
164,165,  168,  173,181. 

MARINES,  142.  163. 

MARKET,  established  at  Ticonderoga, 
116. 

MARTIN,  sloop,  arrives  at  Quebec,  43, 
sails  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  45. 


MASSACHUSETTS,  hostilities  begun  in, 
16;  regiment  of,  under  Colonel 
Porter,  sent  to  Ticonderoga,  20 ; 
troops  of,  at  Sorel,  80 ;  troops  of, 
retreat  from  Canada,  111;  encamped 
on  Mount  Independence,  112;  ship- 
carpenters  from,  sent  to  Skenes 
borough,  113;  provides  Aveeklypost- 
rider  from  Watertown  to  Ticonde 
roga,  116:  attack  on  Whitcomb's 
regiment  of  Massachusetts  troops  at 
Ticonderoga,  122;  measures  taken 
in,  for  sending  reinforcements  to  Ti 
conderoga,  128;  bounty  offered  in, 
for  enli-tment  in  Northern  army, 
129 ;  militia  of,  march  to  Springfield 
and  up  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut 
river,  130;  militia  of,  brought  abun 
dance  of  tents  and  camp  utensils 
with  them,  131;  regiments  of  militia 
under  Colonel  Edward  Wiggles- 
worth,  Colonel  Jonathan  Read,  Col 
onel  Moses  Wheel ock,  and  Colonel 
Ruggles  Woodbridge,  arrive  at  Ti 
conderoga,  134;  redoubts  of  militia 
of,  in  incomplete  state,  174  ;  Whit- 
comb's  regiment  of,  forms  part  of 
the  permanent  garrison  of  Ticonde 
roga,  188  ;  troops  of,  march  for  their 
homes,  191. 

MATERIALS  of  WAR,  confiscation  of, 
at  Philadelphia,  4. 

MAXWELL,  Colonel  WILLIAM,  bio 
graphical  sketch  of,  18 ;  is  ordered 
with  his  regiment  to  Canada,  18 ; 
part  of  regiment  of,  reaches  the  lakes, 
36 ;  member  of  council  of  war  at 
Quebec,  42;  at  Deschambault,  47  ; 
posted  at  Jacques  Carder,  49 ;  left 
to  guard  the  sick  at  Three  Rivers, 
49  ;  abandons  Three  Rivers,  50  ;  is 
sent  back  from  Sorel  against  Three 
Rivers,  66;  takes  part  in  the  battle 
of  Three  Rivers,  73;  regiment  of, 
at  Sorel,  80;  regiment  of,  retreats 
from  Canada,  110;  enlistment  of 
regiment  of,  expires,  155 ;  resolves 
to  remain,  155  ;  regiment  of,  trans 
ferred  to  Pennsylvania  brigade, 
176;  leaves  Ticonderoga,  188;  in 
command  at  Morristown,  190. 

McALiSTER,  Lieutenant  ABDIEL, 
made  prisoner  at  Isle  aux  Xoix,  95. 

McCALLA,  Chaplain  DANIEL,  taken 
prisoner  at  Three  Rivers,  77. 

McCLEAN,  Captain  MOSES,  taken 
prisoner  at  Isle  ziux  Noix,  95. 


INDEX. 


223 


McCov,  Ensign,  sent  by  General  Ar 
nold  on  scout  duty  into  Canada,  145. 

MCDONALD,  ARCHIBALD,  wounded 
by  savages,  146. 

MCFERREN,  Lieutenant  SAMUEL, 
taken  prisoner  at  Isle  aux  Noix, 
95. 

MEASE  and  CALDWELL,  supplies  of 
clothing  sent  by,  to  the  army  at 
Ticonderoga,  152. 

MEYRICK,  SAMUEL  J.,  Surgeon  of 
American  troops  at  Isle  aux  Noix, 
88. 

MILITIA,  begin  to  rendezvous  at  Num 
ber  Four,  130;  march  over  the 
Green  Mountains  toSkenesborough, 
130;  Connecticut,  march  by  the  way 
of  Bennington,  130 ;  Massachusetts, 
brought  tents  and  camp  utensils 
with  them,  131 ;  sufferings  of,  in 
the  wilderness,  131  ;  of  Lhitchess 
and  Ulster  counties  New  York, 
and  of  New  England  counties  called 
out,  146;  further  call  made  upon, 
of  Albany  county,  147 ;  of  Tryon, 
Charlotte,  Cumberland,  Gloucester, 
and  Albany  counties  called  out, 
177 ;  New  England,  march  by  the 
way  of  Skenesborough,  178 ;  Al 
bany,  distributed  at  Forts  Miller, 
Edward,  and  George,  178 ;  New 
York,  move  reluctantly,  179 ;  Wash 
ington's  opinion  of,  179. 

MOHAWK  river,  Indians  reported 
on  the  march  to  the,  146 ;  all  de 
signs  upon,  abandoned  by  the  Brit 
ish,  147 ;  scouting  parties  thrown 
out  to,  177 ;  invasion  of  country 
about,  rumored,  178. 

MOHICAN  INDIANS,  company  of,  at 
Ticonderoga,  136. 

MONCKTON,  General  EGBERT,  battery 
of,  31. 

MONCRIEF,  Lieutenant,  accompanies 
Major  Skene  to  Philadelphia,  4. 

MONEY,  sent  by  Congress  to  General 
Schuyler,  71,' 154. 

MONTGOMERY,  RICHARD,  appointed 
brigadier-general,  5 ;  command  of 
expedition  against  Canada  devolves 
upon,  17 ;  urges  the  sending  of  rein 
forcements  into  Canada,  17  ;  death 
of,  18 ;  intelligence  of  his  death 
reaches  Philadelphia,  18. 

MONTREAL,  arrival  of  Pennsylvania 
troops  at,  28 ;  Commissioners  of 
Congress  arrive  at,  34;  General 


Thomas  arrives  at,  35  ;  hospital  es 
tablished  at,  50 ;  First  Pennsylva 
nia  Regiment  passes  through,  60; 
Arnold  retreats  from,  89 ;  goods 
seized  by  Arnold  at,  89, 126  ;  Carle- 
ton  forms  alliance  with  Indians  at, 
156;  British  vessels  and  bateaux 
constructed  at,  161. 

MOORE,  Captain  JAMES,  arrives  with 
his  company  at  Ticonderoga,  107. 

MORGAN,  Major,  letter  from  Captain 
Jonathan  Jones  to,  139. 

MORRIS,  ANTHONY  JAMES,  appointed 
Major  of  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  8 ;  biographical  sketch 
of,  11;  member  of  council  of  war 
at  Quebec,  42 ;  at  Deschambault,  47 ; 
urged  for  the  Lieutenant-Colonelcy 
of  the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment,  139 ;  is  aggrieved  at  the  ap 
pointment  of  Major  Wood  thereto, 
139  ;  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Col 
onel,  180. 

MOTT,  Colonel  SAMUEL,  Connecticut 
regiment  of  militia  under,  arrives 
at  Ticonderoga,  134 ;  part  of  the 
regiment  of,  sent  to  the  Mohawk, 
147 ;  regiment  of,  leaves  Ticonde 
roga,  190. 

MOUNT  DEFIANCE,  erection  of  mili 
tary  work  on,  recommended,  102. 

MOUNT  HOPE,  military  post  estab 
lished  on,  175. 

MOUNT  INDEPENDENCE,  examined  by 
Colonel  Trumbull,  100;  recom 
mended  as  a  military  position,  102  ; 
New  England  brigades  ordered  to 
encamp  on,  112;  camp  laid  out  on, 
113  ;  batteries  erected  on,  114  ;  sick 
ness  on,  115  ;  slow  progress  of  works 
on,  138 ;  troops  ordered  from,  to 
Ticonderoga,  186. 

Music  at  Ticonderoga,  1 14. 

NELSON,  JOHN,  company  of,  attached 
to  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
reaches  the  lakes,  36. 

NESBITT,  Brigadier-General,  at  Three 
Rivers,  75 ;  lands  at  Sorel,  87 ; 
death  of,  87. 

NEW  ENGLAND,  sectional  feeling  be 
tween  troops  of,  and  Southern 
troops,  121 ;  militia  of,  called  out, 
146. 

NEW  GERMANTOWN,  First  Pennsyl 
vania  Regiment  marches  to,  189 ; 
Lee's  army  under  Sullivan  at,  190, 


224 


INDEX. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE,  regiment  of,  under 
Colonel  Bedel,  sent  to  Ticonderoga, 
20;  troops  of}/ at  Cedars,  54  ;  troops 
of,  at  Sorel  and  vicinity,  80  ;  troops 
of,  retreat  from  Canada,  111  ;  en 
camped  on  Mount  Independence, 
112;  militia  of,  line  the  roads  to 
towns  on  the  Connecticut  river,  130; 
regiments  of  militia  of,  under  Colo 
nels  Wyinan  and  Wingate,  arrive 
at  Ticonderoga,  134;  troops  of,  leave 
Ticonderoga,  190. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  GRANTS,  alarm  of 
settlers  on,  at  news  of  the  retreat 
from  Canada,  128 ;  yeomanry  of, 
sent  to  Ticonderoga,  178. 

NEW  HAVEN,  gondola,  forms  part  of 
the  American  fleet  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  142. 

NEW  JERSEY,  Second  Regiment  of, 
ordered  to  Canada,  18  ;  arrives  at 
Quebec,  29  ;  First  and  Third  Regi 
ments  of,  ordered  to  Canada,  39  ; 
troops  of,  at  Jacques  Cartier  and 
Three  Rivers,  49  ;  retreat  to  Sorel, 
50 ;  sent  back  from  Sorel  against 
Three  Rivers,  66 ;  retreat  from 
Canada,  110;  First  Regiment  of, 
transferred  to  Pennsylvania  brig 
ade,  137  ;  enlistment  of  troops  of, 
expire,  155 ;  Second  Regiment  of, 
transferred  to  Pennsylvania  brig 
ade,  176  ;  Third  Regiment  of,  forms 
part  of  the  permanent  garrison  of 
Ticonderoga,  188  ;  First  and  Sec 
ond  Regiments  of,  march  for  their 
homes,  188. 

NEW  YORK,  gondola,  forms  part  of 
the  American  fleet  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  142  ;  loses  all  her  officers 
except  the  captain,  166. 

NICHOLSON,  Colonel,  member  of 
council  of  war  at  Quebec,  42  ;  regi 
ment  of,  stationed  on  the  Mohawk 
river,  147. 

NICOLET,  American  troops  at,  67,  72. 

NINTH  British  regiment,  86,  158. 

NORTH,  Captain  CALEB,  arrives  with 
his  company  at  Ticonderoga,  107. 

NORTHAMPTON  county,  Virginia, 
committee  of,  call  upon  Congress 
for  aid,  13  ;  three  companies  of  the 
First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  or 
dered  to,  14  ;  order  revoked,  18. 

NUMBER  FOUR,  militia  rendezvous  at, 
130  ;  New  Hampshire  troops  return 
home  by,  190,  191. 


OAKUM  sent  to  Ticonderoga,  113. 

CARMAKERS,  arrive  at  Crown  Point, 
107, 

OATH  required  to  be  taken  by 
soldiers  infected  with  small-pox. 
132. 

OQDEN,  Lieutenant-Colonel  MAT 
THIAS,  in  command  of  First  New 
Jersey  Regiment  at  Ticonderoga, 
137.  * 

ORDNANCE,  at  Ticonderoga,  123  ;  re 
moval  of,  to  Boston,  124. 

ORDNANCE  STORES  at  Ticonderoga, 
125. 

ORGANIZATION,  early  modes  of,  in  the 
colonies,  2. 

OWENS,  ROBERT,  wounded  by  sav 
ages,  146. 

PACKER,  Surgeon,  177. 

PALLASIER,  MONSIEUR,  28. 

PARKER'S  British  regiment,  86. 

PATTERSON,  JOHN,  regiment  of,  sent 
to  Canada,  37  ;  part  of  regiment  of, 
sent  to  reinforce  the  Cedars,  55  ; 
biographical  sketch  of,  55 ;  regi 
ment  of,  at  Montreal,  80  ;  regiment 
of,  retreats  from  Canada,  111  ;  regi 
ment  of,  leaves  Ticonderoga,  190  ; 
joins  Washington's  army  above 
Trenton  Falls,  190. 

PAY  of  captain,  8. 

PELLEW,  EDWARD,  167. 

PENNSYLVANIA,  spread  of  news  from 
Lexington  and  Concord  through 
out  the  province  of,  2 ;  formation 
of  companies  of  associators  in  the 
different  counties  of,  2 ;  manufac 
ture  of  gunpowder  in,  4, 125 ;  troops 
of,  in  the  Continental  army,  6  ;  six 
companies  of  riflemen  under  Colo 
nel  Thompson  raised  in,  5  ;  organi 
zation  of  the  First  Regiment  of,  5  ; 
four  additional  regiments  ordered 
to  be  raised  in,  5 ;  the  Sixth  Regi 
ment  ordered  to  be  raised  in,  6  ; 
the  First,  Second,  Fourth  and  Sixth 
Regiments  of,  take  an  active  part  in 
the  movements  against  Canada,  6  ; 
the  Third  and  Fiftli  Regiments  of, 
distinguish  themselves  at  Fort 
Washington,  6 ;  uniform  of  the 
troops  of,  12;  three  companies  of 
the  First  Regiment  of,  ordered  to 
Virginia,  14  ;  order  revoked,  18  ; 
First  Regiment  of,  ordered  to 
Canada,  18 ;  troops  of,  arrive  at 


INDEX. 


225 


Albany,  22 ;  mutiny  among,  24 ; 
arrival  of  troops  of,  at  Montreal, 
28  ;  arrival  of  troops  of,  at  Quebec, 
29 ;  troops  of,  detained  at  the  lakes, 
36 ;  troops  of,  sent  to  Canada,  39 ; 
skirmish  by  troops  of,  at  Descham- 
bault,  49 ;  First  Regiment  of,  or 
dered  to  reinforce  General  Arnold, 
60 ;  return  of,  to  Sorel  impatiently 
waited  for,  68,  70 ;  Captains  Jones 
and  Davis'  companies  sent  against 
Three  Rivers,  70 ;  troops  of,  at  Three 
Rivers,  73;  troops  of,  at  Sorel,  80; 
troops  of,  massacred  at  Isle  aux 
Noix,  95  ;  party  of  Sixth  Regi 
ment  of,  sent  to  reconnoitre  the  en 
emy,  100 ;  First,  Second  and  Fourth 
Regiments  of,  arrive  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  106  ;  condition  of,  106  ;  brig 
ade  of  Pennsylvania  troops  ordered 
to  encamp  in  the  French  lines,  112; 
four  regiments  of,  comprise  more 
than  half  the  effective  force  at 
Ticonderoga,  121 ;  the  elite  of  the 
army,  .121 ;  troops  of,  brigaded  to 
gether,  121  ;  sectional  animosity  of 
troops  of,  at  Ticonderoga  toward 
their  Eastern  comrades,  121  ;  at 
tention  paid  to  the  cleanly  appear 
ance  of  troops  of,  at  Ticonderoga, 
140 ;  troops  of,  drafted  to  serve  as 
seamen  and  marines  on  board  the 
American  fleet,  142  ;  troops  of,  oc 
cupy  the  left  of  the  position  at 
Ticonderoga,  175;  promotion  of  of 
ficers  of  troops  of,  180  ;  artillery  of, 
36,  111,  137  ;  troops  of,  form  part 
of  the  permanent  garrison  of  Ticon 
deroga,  188 ;  First  Regiment  of, 
march  for  their  homes,  188  ;  ar 
rangement  of  field  officers  of  twelve 
regiments  of,  204,  206. 

PHILADELPHIA,  gondola,  joins  the 
American  fleet  at  Isle  la  Motte,  148  ; 
is  hulled  in  many  places,  166. 

PHILADELPHIA,  arrival  of  the  courier 
from  Lexington  and  Concord  at,  1 ; 
8000  people  assemble  at  the  State 
House,  2 ;  organization  of  associa- 
tors,  2  ;  materials  of  war  confiscated 
at,  4 ;  guard  mounting  at  the  State 
House  and  along  the  wharves,  12; 
arrival  of  Martha  Washington  at, 
13  ;  life  there  in  the  winter  of  1775- 
6,  15  ;  ship  carpenters  from,  sent  to 
Skenesborough,  112. 

PHILLIPS,    General    WILLIAM,     in 


command  of  British  artillery,  85, 
86 ;  commands  column  that  marches 
for  St.  Johns,  87 ;  at  Chamblee, 
144 ;  at  St.  Johns,  158  ;  biographi- 
caFsketch  of,  158 ;  advocates  attack 
upon  Ticonderoga,  191. 

PHINNEY,  Colonel  EDMUND,  regi 
ment  of,  marches  from  Boston  to 
Ticonderoga,  136 ;  regiment  of, 
marches  home,  191. 

PLUCKAMIN,  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  marches  to,  189. 

POINT  AU  FER,  retreating  Americans 
march  to,  96 ;  Generals  Burgoyne 
and  Fraser  embark  from,  on  Lake 
Champlain,  159. 

POINT  LEVI,  erection  of  battery  on, 
31 ;  retreat  of  Americans  from, 
44. 

POMEROY,  SETH,  appointed  brigadier- 
general,  5. 

POOR,  ENOCH,  regiment  of,  sent  to 
Canada,  37;  regiment  of,  at  St. 
Johns,  80;  regiment  of,  retreats 
from  Canada,  111 ;  biographical 
sketch  of,  111  ;  president  of  court- 
martial  at  Ticonderoga,  126 ;  regi 
ment  of,  ordered  from  Mount  In 
dependence  to  Ticonderoga,  185 ; 
regiment  of,  leaves  Ticonderoga, 
190;  joins  Washington's  army 
above  Trenton  Falls,  190. 

PORTER,  Colonel,  member  of  council 
of  war  at  Quebec,  42. 

PORTER,  ELISHA,  Colonel  of  a  Mas 
sachusetts  regiment  furnished,  at 
the  call  of  Washington,  to  reinforce 
the  army  in  Canada,  20 ;  his  march 
for  Canada,  36 ;  regiment  of,  at 
Chamblee,  81 ;  regiment  of,  retreats 
from  Canada,  111 ;  regiment  of, 
leaves  Ticonderoga,  190 ;  at  Mor- 
ristown,  190. 

|  PORTRAIT,  of  General  Schuyler, 
frontispiece ;  of  General  Wooster, 
28;  of  General  Thomas,  52;  of 
General  Sullivan,  88  ;  of  General 
Carleton,  112;  of  General  Gates, 
140;  of  General  Arnold,  168;  of 
General  Burgoyne,  194. 

POST  RIDERS  from  Watertown,  Mass., 
and  Lebanon,  Conn.,  to  Ticonde 
roga,  116 ;  employed  by  Congress, 
117. 

POSTAL  SERVICE  established  by  Con 
gress,  117. 

POTTS,  Dr.  JONATHAN,  Secretary  of 


226 


INDEX. 


Committee  of  Safety  of  Berks 
County,  Pa.,  3;  accompanies  Gene 
ral  Gates  to  Canada,  99  ;  in  charge 
of  hospital  at  Fort  George,  105;  in 
charge  of  hospital  on  Mount  Inde 
pendence,  177. 

POWDER  MILLS  in  Pennsylvania,  125. 

POWEL,  General,  appointed  Briga 
dier-General  by  Sir  Guy  Carleton, 
102. 

POWELL,  MosES,killed  by  savages,145. 

PR^TORIUS,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
Hessian  troops,  84. 

PREMIER,  Captain,  commands  schoo 
ner  Liberty,  142. 

PRINCE  FREDERICK,  Hessian  regi 
ment,  84. 

PRINGLE,  Captain  THOMAS,  com 
mands  British  fleet,  163,  165. 

PRISONERS,  barbarous  treatment  of, 
taken  at  the  Cedars,  59. 

PROVIDENCE,  gondola,  forms  part  of 
the  American  fleet  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  142. 

PROVISIONS  on  board  the  fleet,  148; 
apprehensions  that  Ticonderoga  was 
not  sufficiently  well  stored  with,  179. 

PUTNAM,  ISRAEL,  leaves  his  plow  in 
the  field  and  hastens  to  camp,  1 ; 
appointed  Major-General,  5. 

PUTNAM'S  POINT,  British  van-bri 
gade  under  General  Fraser  advances 
to,  181 ;  British  advance  post  main 
tained  at,  186;  detachment  of  Sixth 
Pennsylvania,  under  Major  Dun- 
lop,  sent  to  "  beat  up  "  British  post 
at,  187. 

QUAREL,  JAMES,  wounded  by  sav 
ages,  146. 

QUEBEC,  number  of  troops  before,  18 ; 
Arnold  in  command  at,  18  ;  arrival 
of  Pennsylvania  troops  at,  29;  con 
dition  of  the  American  army  be 
fore,  29 ;  small-pox  among  the 
troops  at,  29  ;  suburbs  of  St.  Roque 
and  St.  Johns  burned  by  the  Ameri 
can  troops  at,  30;  relief  of,  attempted 
by  M.  Beaujeu,  31 ;  his  party  de 
feated  and  dispersed,  31;  arrival  of 
General  Thomas  at,  40 ;  condition 
of  affairs  at,  40;  fire-ship  at,  40; 
council  of  war  held  at,  42  ;  retreat 
from,  determined  upon,  42 ;  arrival 
of  the  Surprise,  Martin,  and  Isis  at, 
43  ;  sortie  from,  43  ;  retreat  of  the 
American  army  from,  44. 


RAY,  Major,  member  of  council  of 
war,  at  Deschambault,  47. 

READ,  Colonel  JONATHAN,  Massa 
chusetts  regiment  of  militia  under, 
arrives  at  Ticonderoga,  134  ;  regi 
ment  of,  marches  home,  191. 

RECONNOITERING,  parties  sent  out  by 
the  Americans,  100,  101,  107. 

REDOUBTS,  on  Mount  Independence, 
114,  184  ;  about  the  French  lines, 
137,  184;  Jersey,  137,  175,  184, 
185  ;  old  French,  135;  Arnold  as 
signed  to  command  of,  174 ;  Gen 
eral  Brickett's  brigade  repairs  old 
French,  177. 

REED,  Captain,  commands  gondola 
New  York,  142. 

REED,  JAMES,  regiment  of,  sent  to 
Canada,  39 ;  regiment  of,  at  Mon 
treal,  80 ;  regiment  of,  retreats  from 
Canada,  111  ;  commands  brigade 
on  Mount  Independence,  111  ;  sick 
ness  of,  115  ;  appointed  brigadier- 
General,  138;  biographical  sketch 
of,  138;  regiment  of,  ordered  from 
Mount  Independence  to  Ticonde 
roga,  185;  regiment  of,  leaves  Ti 
conderoga,  190  ;  joins  Washing 
ton's  camp  above  Trenton  Falls,  190. 

REINFORCEMENTS,  for  the  American 
army  in  Canada,  18,  20,  35,  37,  39 ; 
for  the  British  army  in  Canada,  43, 
84,  86,  156. 

RETREAT  of  the  American  army, 
from  Quebec,  44  ;  from  Descham 
bault,  48  ;  from  Three  Rivers,  49  ; 
from  Sorel,  82;  from  Chamblee,  88  ; 
from  St.  Johns,  89 ;  from  Isle  aux 
Noix,  96  ;  from  Isle  la  Motte,  96  ; 
General  Gates  learns  of  the  retreat, 
99  ;  effect  of,  upon  the  settlers  of 
Northern  New  York  and  New 
Hampshire  grants,  128  ;  of  British 
army  to  Canada,  187, 188  ;  of  Brit 
ish  army  occasions  great  dissatis 
faction  in  England,  194. 

REVENGE,  schooner,  150,  170;  forms 
part  of  the  American  fleet  on  Lake 
Cham  plain,  142  ;  ordered  down  the 
lake,  143  ;  brought  to  by  shot  from 
the  Royal  Savage,  143. 

RHODE  ISLAND,  ship  carpenters  from, 
sent  to  Ticonderoga,  113. 

RICE,  Captain,  commands  gondola 
Philadelphia,  148. 

RIEDESEL.FRIEDRICH  ADOLPH  VON, 
Major-General  in  command  of 


INDEX. 


227 


Brunswick  troops,  84,  87 ;  inter 
change  of  hospitalities  between 
British  officers  and,  85  ;  German 
troops  under,  at  La  Prairie,  145  ; 
at  St.  Johns,  158 ;  visits  Crown 
Point,  181. 

RIEDESEL,  Brunswick  Eegiment,  74, 
84,  158. 

RIFLEMEN,  companies  of,  raised  in 
Pennsylvania,  5  ;  company  of  John 
Nelson  attached  to  First  Pennsyl 
vania  Regiment,  36;  company  of, 
sent  from  New  York  to  Canada,  38. 

RIPPEY,  Captain  WILLIAM,  attacked 
by  Indians  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  95. 

ROAD,  built  by  Province  of  New  York 
in  1709,  100 ;  built  by  Major  Skene, 
130 ;  from  Number  Four  to  Skenes- 
borough,  repaired  by  General  Gates, 
130;  new  road  opened  from  Mount 
Independence  to  Rutland,  130. 

ROBINSON,  Captain  THOMAS,  com 
pany  of,  sent  to  Canada,  39. 

ROBINSON,  Colonel,  New  England 
regiment  of  militia  under,  reaches 
Ticonderoga,  179. 

ROMANS,  BERNARD,  commands  com 
pany  of  Pennsylvania  artillery,  36; 
reaches  the  lakes,  36  ;  company  of, 
retreats  from  Canada,  111 ;  en- 
carnps  within  the  French  lines,  137. 

ROYAL  GREENS,  146. 

ROYAL  HIGHLAND  EMIGRANTS,  43, 
86  ;  reported  to  be  on  the  march  to 
the  Mohawk  river,  146;  garrison 
Montreal,  158. 

ROYAL  SAVAGE,  schooner,  forms  part 
of  the  American  fleet  on  Lake 
Cham  plain,  142 ;  shot  from,  opposes 
the  execution  of  Arnold's  orders  to 
the  Revenge  and  Liberty,  143 ; 
General  Arnold  establishes  his 
quarters  on,  143  ;  Arnold  shifts  his 
quarters  from,  to  row-galley  Con 
gress,  150  ;  engages  in  action  with 
the  British  fleet,  164  ;  stranded  and 
burned,  165. 

RUM,  issued  to  troops  at  Ticonderoga, 
115,  176 ;  issued  to  soldiers  on 
board  the  fleet,  148. 

RUTLAND,  new  road  built  from  Mount 
Independence  to,  130;  bridge  built 
over  Otter  creek  at,  131. 

SANDUSKY,  9. 

SARGEXT,  MICHAEL,  killed  by  sav 
ages,  145. 


SAW-MILLS  in  the  vicinity  of  Ticon 
deroga.  112. 

SCHANK,  Lieutenant,  commands  Brit 
ish  ship  Inflexible,  162. 

SCHUYLER,  General  PHILIP,  portrait 
of,  frontispiece ;  appointed  major- 
general,  5  ;  ordered  to  occupy  Can 
ada,  16  ;  is  prevented  from  doing 
so  by  illness,  17  ;  urges  the  sending 
of  reinforcements  into  Canada, 
17  ;  Congress  responds  to  his  de 
mand,  18  ;  calls  upon  Washington 
for  further  reinforcements  for  Can 
ada,  19  ;  Washington's  reply  there 
to,  19  ;  troom  report  to,  at  Albany, 
22  ;  punishes  mutineers,  24  ;  man 
sion  of,  25  ;  letter  from,  to  Washing 
ton  on  alarming  state  of  affairs  in 
Canada,  37  ;  Washington  sends  let 
ter  of,  to  Congress,  38  ;  advised  by 
commissioners  of  Congress  not  to 
forward  Sullivan's  brigade,  48 ; 
builds  boats  for,  50  ;  commissioners 
write  to,  for  provisions,  51 ;  Con 
gress  sends  hard  money  to,  71  ; 
opinion  of,  as  to  enlistment  of  In 
dians,  72  ;  makes  treaty  with  In 
dians  at  German  Flats,  72  ;  letter 
from  Washington  to,  on  battle  of 
Three  Rivers,  78 ;  sends  boats  to 
the  relief  of  the  retreating  army, 
96 ;  General  Gates  disputes  com 
mand  of,  99  ;  goes  to  Crown  Point, 
100  ;  holds  council  of  war  at  Crown 
Point,  102 ;  remonstrance  against 
evacuation  of  Crown  Point  ad 
dressed  to,  103  ;  letter  from  Wash 
ington  to,  on  evacuation  of  Crown 
Point,  103  ;  letter  from  Sullivan  to, 
complaining  of  the  appointment  of 
Gates,  104;  Sullivan  expresses  his 
satisfaction  at  the  conduct  of  his 
troops,  through,  104 ;  returns  to 
Ticonderoga,  106;  saw-mill  built 
by,  on  Wood  creek,  112  ;  sends  car 
penters  to  Ticonderoga,  112;  re 
quests  Governor  Trumbull  to  send 
ship  carpenters  to  Skenesborough, 
113  ;  sends  felling-axes  to  liconde- 
roga,  113;  comments  on  order  of 
Sir  Guy  Carleton,  120 ;  calls  Wash 
ington's  attention  to  sectional  ani 
mosity  existing  among  the  troops, 
123;  "commands  soldiers  infected 
with  small-pox  to  be  removed  to  a 
distance  from  the  roads,  133  ;  false 
alarm  of  action  between  the  fleets 


228 


INDEX. 


reaches,  146 ;  calls  for  New  York 
and  New  England  militia,  146 ; 
makes  a  further  appeal  for  militia 
to  Albany  county,  147  ;  holds  all 
militia  at  Albany,  147  ;  sends  parts 
of  Wynkoop's,  Van  Schaick's,  Van 
Dyke's,  and  Mott's  regiments  to  the 
Mohawk,  and  keeps  Nicholson's 
and  Elmore's  regiments  there,  147  ; 
countermands  order  for  militia,  and 
sends  those  from  Albany  home, 
147 ;  money  sent  to,  by  Congress, 
154;  anxiety  about  expiring  enlist 
ments,  155 ;  Arnold  sends  his  pa 
pers  and  money  to,  174 ;  sentiments 
respecting  the  militia,  180;  orders 
troops  from  Ticonderoga  to  join 
Washington's  army,  188. 

SCOTT,  Lieutenant,  commands  British 
radeau  Thunderer,  162. 

SCOTT,  Major,  testimony  of,  rejected 
at  court-martial  of  Colonel  Hazen, 
126. 

SCOUTING  PARTIES  sent  out  from 
Crown  Point,  100,  101,  107;  from 
Ticonderoga,  109,  177  ;  British  cap 
ture  American,  at  Ticonderoga,  182. 

SEAMAN,  Captain,  commands  schooner 
Eevenge,  142. 

SECOND  NEW  JERSEY  REGIMENT 
ordered  to  Canada,  18;  part  of, 
reaches  the  lakes,  36  ;  posted  at 
Jacques  Cartier,  49 ;  left  to  guard 
the  sick  at  Three  Eivers,  49  ;  aban 
dons  Three  Kivers,  50  ;  is  sent  back 
from  Sorel  against  Three  Eivers, 
66  ;  takes  part  in  the  battle  of  Three 
Eivers,  73;  at  Sorel,  80;  retreats 
from  Canada,  110;  enlistment  of, 
expires,  155  ;  resolves  to  remain, 
155 ;  transferred  to  Pennsylvania 
brigade,  176 ;  march  for  their 
homes,  188. 

SECOND  PENNSYLVANIA  REGIMENT, 
organization  of,  for  Continental 
Army,  5 ;  ordered  to  Canada,  and 
reaches  the  lakes,  36;  arrives  at 
Sorel,  50  ;  at  Three  Eivers,  66,  73; 
arrives  at  Ticonderoga,  106;  forms 
part  of  permanent  garrison  of  Ti 
conderoga,  188;  officers  of,  201. 

SECTIONAL  ANIMOSITY  between  the 
troops  at  Ticonderoga,  122. 

SEDGWICK,  Major,  member  of  council 
of  war  at  Deschambault,  47. 

SHEE,  JOHN,  appointed  Colonel  of  the 
Third  Pennsylvania  Eegiment,  5 ; 


regiment  of,  sent  to  New  York, 
39. 

SHEEP  not  killed  until  they  were 
sheared,  4. 

SHERBURNE,  HENRY,  volunteers  to 
command  reinforcements  for  the 
Cedars,  55  ;  ascends  Lake  St.  Louis, 
56,  58;  party  under,  defeated  by 
the  British  near  the  Cedars,  58; 
surrender  of,  and  barbarous  treat 
ment  of  his  men  by  the  enemy,  59; 
exchange  of,  64. 

SHIP  CARPENTERS  sent  to  Skenes- 
borough,  112;  prostration  of,  151. 

SHOEMAKER,  JOHX,  wounded  by 
savages,  146. 

SHORT  ENLISTMENTS,  5,  155. 

SHREVE,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  mem 
ber  of  council  of  war  at  Quebec, 
42;  at  Deschambault,  47. 

SICK  at  Quebec,  29  ;  mercifully  cared 
for  by  General  Carleton,  45;  at 
Depchambault,  48;  left  at  Three 
Eivers,  49  ;  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Montreal,  50;  sent  to  Chamblee  and 
St.  Johns,  67 ;  at  St.  Johns,  8J  ; 
removal  of,  to  Isle  aux  Noix,  88  ; 
at  Isle  aux  Noix,  92 ;  removal  of, 
to  Crown  Point,  94  ;  removal  of,  to 
Fort  George,  105 ;  condition  of,  at 
Fort  George,  106 ;  at  Mount  Inde 
pendence,  115. 

SICKNESS  at  Ticonderoga  and  Mount 
Independence,  114,  115,  133,  134; 
of  ship  carpenters  at  Skenes- 
borough,  151. 

SILSBY,  Surgeon,  177. 

SIMONDS,  Captain,  commands  gon 
dola  Providence,  142. 

SIXTH  PENNSYLVANIA  EEGIMENT 
raised  for  Continental  Army,  6  ; 
sent  to  Canada,  39 ;  at  Three  Eivers, 
73;  troops  of,  massacred  at  Isle  aux 
Noix,  95 ;  party  of,  sent  to  recon 
noitre  the  enemy,  100;  stationed  at 
Crown  Point  as  the  outpost  of  the 
army,  107;  false  alarm  occasioned 
by  party  of,  143;  retreat  of,  to  Ti 
conderoga,  160,  171;  Major  Grier 
appointed  major  of,  180;  dttacli- 
ment  of,  under  Major  Dunlop,  sent 
to  "beat  up"  British  post  at  Put 
nam's  Point,  187 ;  forms  part  of  the 
permanent  garrison  of  Ticonderoga, 
188;  officers  of,  203. 

SIXTY-SECOND  British  Eegiment,  74, 
86,  144,  158,  159. 


INDEX. 


229 


SKENE,  Major  PHILIP,  Skenesbor- 
ough  named  after,  4;  arrives  at 
Philadelphia  with  materials  of  war, 
4;  Congress  appoints  a  committee 
to  examine  his  papers,  4 ;  is  re 
leased  upon  his  parole,  4;  road  built 
by,  130. 

SKENESBOROUGH,  named  after  Major 
Philip  Skene,  4;  population  of, 
100;  Generals  Gates  and  Schuyler 
arrive  at,  100;  first  company  of  re 
inforcements  of  militia  arrives  at, 
130;  low  country  about  overflows, 
130;  construction  of  fleet  at,  141; 
garrison  at,  141 ;  Connecticut  troops 
return  to  their  homes  by  way  of,  191. 

SLEDS,  provided  to  transport  First 
Pennsylvania  Regiment  to  Albany, 
22;  up  the  Hudson,  25. 

SMALL-POX,  appears  among  the  troops 
before  Quebec,  29;  Connecticut 
troops  inoculate  themselves  with,  at 
Deschambault,  48;  sick  with,  at 
Three  Rivers,  49;  at  Montreal,  50; 
at  Chamblee  and  St.  Johns,  67  ;  at 
St.  Johns,  81;  at  Isle  aux  Noix, 
88,92;  at  Crown  Point,  94 ;  at  Fort 
George,  105;  dread  of,  retards  en 
listments,  129;  troops  infected  with, 
ordered  to  be  sent  to  hospital  at 
Fort  George,  132 ;  oath  required  to 
be  taken  by  soldiers  infected  with, 
132;  General  Schuyler  commands 
all  soldiers  infected  with,  to  be  re 
moved  to  a  distance  from  the  roads, 
133;  disappearance  of,  133. 

SMITH'S  BATTERY  erected  on  Charles 
river,  31. 

SOAP  provided  in  abundance  at  Ti- 
conderoga,  140. 

SOREL,  arrival  of  the  retreating 
American  army  at,  50;  Generals 
Arnold  and  Thompson  and  Colonel 
St.  Clair  arrive  at,  50;  condition 
of  troops  at,  51 ;  command  at,  de 
volves  upon  General  Thompson, 
53;  commissioners  of  Congress 
learn  of  the  disaster  at  the  Cedars 
at,  60;  General  Thompson  sends 
sick  and  heavy  baggage  from,  67 ; 
General  Sullivan  arrives  at,  69; 
force  at,  after  the  battle  of  Three 
Rivers,  80 ;  fortification  of,  82 ;  de 
sertions  from,  82;  council  of  war 
held  at,  82;  retreat  from,  82;  Brit 
ish  fleet  arrives  off,  86;  British 
vessels  constructed  at,  161. 


SOREL  RIVER,  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  descends,  27  ;  retreating 
American  army  retreat^  up,  83; 
party  under  Captain  Wilson  de 
scends  and  is  captured  in,  101 ; 
Lieutenant  Whitcomb  goes  on  scout 
duty  down,  101 ;  British  army 
moves  up,  157 ;  British  troops  go 
into  winter  quarters  along,  187. 

SPECHT,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Hes 
sian  troops,  84 ;  German  troops 
under,  at  St.  Johns,  144. 

SPENCER,  JOSEPH,  appointed  Briga 
dier-General,  5. 

SPITFIRE,  gondola,  forms  part  of  the 
American  fleet  on  Lake  Champlain, 
142. 

SPITHEAD,  British  reinforcements 
sail  from,  85. 

ST.  AMAND,  bay,  American  fleet  ar 
rives  at,  149.  * 

ST.  CLAIR,  ARTHUR,  appointed  Col 
onel  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  5 ;  ordered  to  Canada 
and  reaches  the  lakes,  36  ;  is  sent 
against  Three  Rivers,  66 ;  takes 
part  in  the  battle  of  Three  Rivers, 
73 ;  regiment  of,  at  Sorel,  80 ;  regi 
ment  of,  retreats  from  Canada,  110 ; 
commands  Pennsylvania  brigade  at 
Ticonderoga,  112;  Declaration  of 
Independence  read  at  Ticonderoga 
by,  118  ;  appointed  Brigadier-Gen 
eral,  138 ;  leaves  Ticonderoga,  188. 

ST.  JOHNS,  First  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ment  arrives  at,  27;  desertions  from, 
82  ;  retreating  American  army 
reaches,  89 ;  council  of  war  held 
at,  89;  barracks  and  fortifications 
at,  burned,  and  retreat  continued, 
89;  British  army  arrives  at,  90; 
British  and  German  troops  at,  144, 
158  ;  British  vessels  constructed  at, 
161,  162;  British  fleet  returns  to, 
187. 

ST.  LAWRENCE  RIVER,  full  of  floating 
ice,  28  ;  Surprise  and  Martin  as 
cend,  45 ;  British  army  ascends,  86  ; 
General  Carleton  descends,  in  a 
canoe,  119. 

ST.  Louis,  lake,  Major  Sherburne  as 
cends,  56,  58. 

ST.  PETER,  lake,  St.  Glair's  detach 
ment  crosse?,  67 ;  companies  of 
Captains  Jones  and  Davis  cross,  70  ; 
troops  under  General  Thompson 
cross,  72;  British  army  ascends,  86. 


230 


INDEX. 


ST.  THERESA,  British  troops  at,  158 ; 
rapids  of,  162. 

STAGEY,  Major  WILLIAM,  133. 

STADE,  Hessian  and  Brunswick  troops 
sail  from,  84. 

STANLEY,  GEORGE,  wounded  by  sav 
ages,  146. 

STANTON,  Colonel,  independent  com 
pany  of,  retreats  from  Canada,  111. 

STARK,  JOHN,  hastens  to  camp  in 
his  shirt-sleeves,  2 ;  regiment  of, 
sent  to  Canada,  39  ;  regiment  of, 
retreats  from  Canada,  110 ;  com 
mands  brigade  on  Mount  Indepen 
dence,  111  ;  regiment  of,  leaves 
Ticonderoga,  190  ;  joins  Washing 
ton's  army  above  Trenton  Falls, 
190. 

STARKE,  Lieutenant,  commands  Brit 
ish  schooner  Maria,  162. 

STATE  HOUSE,  Philadelphia,  guard 
mounted  at,  12;  military  stores  at, 
12; 

STEVENS,  EBENEZER,  in  command  of 
companies  of  Knox's  artillery  sent 
to  Canada,  36  ;  biographical  sketch 
of,  36  ;  arrives  at  Three  Rivers,  49; 
is  sent  again  to  Three  Rivers,  71 ; 
company  of,  retreats  from  Canada, 
111 ;  companies  under,  encamped 
within  the  French  lines,  137  ;  in 
command  of  all  artillery  at  Ticon 
deroga,  137. 

STEVENS,  Captain  JOHN,  sent  to  Que 
bec  as  hostage  for  the  prisoners 
taken  at  the  Cedars,  64. 

STEWART,  Surgeon,  177. 

STOCKTON,  RICHARD,  member  of 
committee  of  Congress  to  visit  the 
Northern  army,  106  ;  comments  on 
condition  of  the  sick  at  Fort 
George,  106  ;  comments  on  distress 
ing  condition  of  the  troops  at  Ti 
conderoga,  182. 

STODD'S  TAVERN,  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  lodges  at,  27. 

STODY,  JONATHAN,  wounded  by  sav 
ages,  146. 

STRANGWAY,  Captain,  74. 

SUGAR-LOAF  HILL,  recommended  as 
a  military  position,  102. 

SULLIVAN,  Captain  EBENEZER,  sent 
to  Quebec  as  hostage  for  the  prison 
ers  taken  at  the  Cedars,  64. 

SULLIVAN,  JOHN,  appointed  Briga 
dier-General,  5  ;  in  command  of  a 
brigade  of  reinforcements  for  the 


army  in  Canada,  39 ;  arrives  at 
Chamblee,  68 ;  command  of  the 
army  devolves  upon,  68  ;  arrives  at 
Sorel,  69  ;  sends  General  Thomp 
son  with  1000  men  against  Three 
Rivers,  70;  force  under,  at  Sorel 
after  the  battle  of  Three  Rivers, 
80  ;  portrait  of,  88  ;  army  under,  re 
treats  from  Sorel,  82  ;  from  Cham 
blee,  83 ;  from  St.  Johns,  89  ;  con 
dition  of  army  under,  at  Isle  aux 
Noix,  92  ;  retreats  from  Isle  aux 
Noix,  96 ;  Isle  la  Motte,  96  ;  to 
Crown  Point,  96 ;  takes  offense  at 
the  appointment  of  General  Gates, 
104 ;  resigns  his  commission,  104  ; 
expresses  his  satisfaction  at  the  con 
duct  of  his  troops  in  the  trials  and 
sufferings  of  the  retreat,  104;  offi 
cers  express  their  regard  for,  105  ; 
withdraws  his  resignation  at  the 
request  of  Congress,  105 ;  in  com 
mand  of  Lee's  division  at  New  Ger- 
mantown,  190;  joins  Washington's 
army  above  Trenton  Falls,  190. 

SUMNER,  Captain,  commands  gondola 
Boston,  142. 

SURPRISE,  ship,  arrives  at  Quebec, 
43 ;  sails  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  45. 

SWALLOW,  packet,  dispatch  from 
Lord  George  Germain  for  General 
Carleton  sent  in,  192. 

SWART,  DERRICK,  Deputy  Commis 
sary-General  at  Three  Rivers,  28. 

SWIFT,  Colonel  HEMAN,  regiment  of 
Connecticut  militia  under,  arrives 
at  Ticonderoga,  134 ;  regiment  of, 
leaves  Ticonderoga,  190. 

TAYLOR'S  British  regiment,  86. 

TAYLOR,  Captain  JAMES,  arrives  with 
his  company  at  Ticonderoga,  107. 

TAYLOR,  surgeon,  177. 

TEN  BROECK,  General  PETRUS,  or 
dered  to  march  militia  under  his 
command,  178. 

THACHER,  Dr.  JAMES,  177 ;  surgeon 
of  Whitcomb's  regiment,  122  ;  com 
ments  on  sectional  animosity  be 
tween  troops  at  Ticonderoga,  122. 

THATCHER,  Captain,  commands  row- 
galley  Washington,  150. 

THIRD  NEW  JERSEY  REGIMENT,  or 
dered  to  Canada,  39;  at  Fort 
Schuyler,  146;  marches  to  Ticonde 
roga,  ]  78 ;  form*  part  of  the  perma 
nent  garrison  of  Ticonderoga,  188. 


INDEX. 


231 


THIED  PENNSYLVANIA  KEGIMENT, 
organization  of,  for  the  Continental 
army,  6  ;  sent  to  New  York,  39. 

THIRTY-FIRST  British  regiment,  75, 
86,  158. 

THIRTY-FOURTH  British  regiment, 
75,  86,  158. 

THOMAS,  JOHN,  appointed  Brigadier- 
General^;  appointed  Major-Gen- 
eral,  35 ;  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  army  in  Canada,  35  ; 
biographical  sketch  of,  35 ;  arrival 
of,  at  Quebec,  40 ;  retreating  army 
under,  reaches  Deschambault,  47  ; 
reaches  Three  Eivers,  49  ;  reaches 
Sorel,  50 ;  death  of,  52 ;  portrait  of, 
52. 

THOMPSON,  General  WILLIAM,  com 
mands  a  brigade  of  reinforcements 
for  Canada,  38 ;  arrives  at  Sorel, 
50 ;  left  in  command  at  that  place, 
53 ;  sends  Colonels  St.  Clair  and 
Maxwell  with  700  men  against 
Three  Elvers,  66;  biographical 
sketch  of,  67  ;  sends  sick  and  heavy 
baggage  to  Chamblee  and  St.  Johns, 
67  ;  waits  impatiently  for  return  of 
First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  to 
Sorel,  68  ;  assumes  command  of  the 
forces  sent  against  Three  Rivers,  at 
Nicolet,  70 ;  taken  prisoner  at  Three 
Eivers,  76. 

THREE-MILE  POINT,  British  Indians 
and  Canadians  land  on,  185 ;  troops 
cross  the  lake  from,  185 ;  return  of 
troops  to,  186. 

THREE  EIVERS,  arrival  of  retreating 
Americans  at,  49 ;  sick  left  at, 
49 ;  troops  sent  against,  66,  70,  71 ; 
battle  of,  73. 

THUNDERER,  British  radeau,  162, 
163,  164. 

TICONDEROGA,  Captain  Jonathan 
Jones'  company  reaches,  26 ;  ar 
rival  of  Generals  Schuyler,  Gates, 
and  Arnold  at,  100;  Generals 
Schuyler  and  Gates  return  to,  106; 
First,  Second,  and  Fourth  Pennsyl 
vania  Eegiments  arrive  at,  106; 
construction  of  fort  at,  108;  its 
strength,  108;  scouting  party  sent 
out  from,  109 ;  last  of  the  retreating 
American  army  arrives  at,  110; 
army  at,  divided  into  four  brigades, 
111;  music  at,  114;  alarm  posts 
established  at,  114;  sickness  at, 
114;  want  of  mail  facilities  at,  116; 


four  Pennsylvania  regiments  com 
prise  more  than  half  the  effective 
force  at,  1 21 ;  Pennsylvania  troops 
the  flower  of  the  army  at,  121; 
Pennsylvania  regiments  brigaded 
together  at,  121;  sectional  animos 
ity  between  the  troops  at,  121 ;  ord 
nance  at,  123;  garrison  at,  in  May, 
1775,  123;  removal  of  ordnance 
from,  123 ;  wheelwrights  arrive  at, 
125;  ordnance  stores  at,  125;  am 
munition  arrives  at,  126 ;  oath  re 
quired  to  be  taken  by  soldiers 
infected  with  small-pox  at,  132; 
disappearance  of  small-pox  from, 
133 ;  divine  service  ordered  to  be 
held  in  every  brigade  at,  139;  ves 
sels  of  the  fleet  receive  their  arma 
ment  at,  142;  false  alarm  of  action 
between  the  fleets  reaches,  146 ; 
order  issued  to  troops  at,  146 ;  fears 
for  communication  with,  146;  en 
listments  of  troops  at,  expire,  155  ; 
DeHaas',  Maxwell's,  and  part  of 
Wind's  regiments  resolve  to  re 
main,  155;  reception  of  news  of 
naval  battle  at,  159,  160;  order  to 
troops  at,  159 ;  Arnold  and  the 
Sixth  Pennsylvania  Eegiment  ar 
rive  at,  160;  remnant  of  the  fleet 
arrives  at,  160;  attack  on,  expected, 
173,  176 ;  order  issued  to  troops  at, 
173;  gun-carriages  constructed  at, 
174;  comments  of  Eichard  Stock 
ton  on  condition  of  troops  at,  1 82 ; 
advance  of  the  British  army  upon, 
184 ;  Colonel  Trumbull  comments 
on  appearance  of,  186  ;  number  of 
cannon  mounted  on  works  at,  186 ; 
British  army  retires  from  before, 
186;  permanent  garrison  estab 
lished  at,  188;  General  Gates 
leaves,  190;  departure  of  troops 
from,  190,  191;  attack  on,  advo 
cated  by  Generals  Burgoyne  and 
Phillips,  191. 

TRENTON,  British  army  arrives  at, 
189. 

TRUMBULL,  Colonel  JOHN,  accompa 
nies  General  Gates  to  Canada,  99 ; 
comments  on  condition  of  troops  at 
Crown  Point,  97;  Adjutant-General, 
99 ;  examines  Mount  Independ 
ence,  100 ;  joins  the  army  at  Crown 
Point,  102  ;  recommends  erection  of 
works  on  Sugar-loaf  Hill,  102 ;  re 
quested  to  put  General  Arnold  in 


232 


INDEX. 


arrest,  127 ;  comments  on  appear 
ance  of  Ticonderoga,  188. 

TRUMBULL,  Governor  JONATHAN, 
sends  ship  carpenters  and  axes  to 
Ticonderoga,  113;  denounces  inoc 
ulation  by  the  troops,  133;  sends 
supplies  of  clothing  to  Ticonderoga, 
152. 

TRUMBULL,  row-galley,  170 ;  joins 
the  American  fleet  at  Valcour 
island,  150 ;  Colonel  Wigglesworth 
takes  command  of,  151 ;  engages  in 
action  with  the  British  fleet,  164; 
leads  in  the  retreat  of  the  American 
fleet,  167 ;  fire  from,  opened  upon 
the  British  gunboats,  185. 

TWENTIETH  British  regiment.  75, 
86,  157,  158,  159. 

TWENTY-FIRST  British  regiment,  86, 
158,  159. 

TWENTY-SECOND  British  regiment, 
145. 

TWENTY-FOURTH  British  regiment, 
75,  86,  144,  157,  181. 

TWENTY-NINTH  British  regiment, 
43,  86,  87,  158,  163. 

ULMER,  Captain,  commands  gondola 
Spitfire,  142. 

ULSTER  County,  New  York,  trans 
ports  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
to  Albany  on  sleds,  22  ;  militia  of, 
called  out,  146. 

UNIFORMS  of  the  Pennsylvania  regi 
ments,  12. 

VALCOUR  ISLAND,  Arnold  takes 
soundings  around,  149 ;  American 
fleet  anchors  behind,  150. 

VAN  DYKE,  Colonel  CORNELIUS, 
regiment  of,  stationed  at  Fort 
George,  111 ;  part  of  the  regiment 
of,  sent  to  the  Mohawk,  147. 

VAN  SCHAICK,  Colonel  GOOSE,  regi 
ment  of,  stationed  at  Fort  George, 
111;  part  of  regiment  of,  sent  to 
the  Mohawk,  147. 

VERNON,  Captain  FREDERICK,  ar 
rives  with  his  company  at  Ticonde 
roga,  107. 

VIRGINIA,  assistance  asked  from,  13; 
three  companies  of  the  First  Penn 
sylvania  Kegiment  ordered  to,  14 ; 
order  revoked,  18. 

VON  GALL,  Colonel,  in  command  of 
Hesse-Hanau  troops,  85,  86. 

VON  R.HETZ,  Hessian  regiment,  157. 


WAIT,  Lieutenant-Colonel  JOSEPH, 
member  of  council  of  war  at  Quebec, 
42 ;  commands  Bedel's  regiment,  58. 

WAR,  council  of,  held  at  Quebec,  42  ; 
at  Deschambault,  47  ;  at  Fort  St. 
Ann,  63  ;  at  Sorel,  82 ;  at  St.  Johns, 
89;  at  Crown  Point,  ]02. 

WARD,  ARTEMAS,  appointed  Major- 
General,  5  ;  ordered  by  Washing 
ton  to  send  Continental  regiments 
from  Boston  to  Ticonderoga,  135. 

WARNER,  Captain,  commands  row- 
galley  Trumbull,  150. 

WARNER,  Colonel  SETH,  aids  in 
sending  the  yeomanry  of  the  New 
Hampshire  grants  to  Ticonderoga, 
178. 

WASHINGTON,  row-galley,  joins  the 
American  fleet  at  Valcour  island, 
150  ;  General  Waterbury  takes 
command  of,  151 ;  engages  in  ac 
tion  with  the  British  fleet,  164 ; 
suffers  severely,  165  ;  brings  up  the 
rear  in  the  retreat  of  the  fleet,  167  ; 
at  Schuyler's  Island,  1 67  ;  surren 
der  of,  168 ;  release  of  crew  of,  171. 

WASHINGTON,  GEORGE,  appointed 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  army, 
5 ;  active  operations  under,  before 
Boston,  8;  army  under,  closely 
besieging  the  British  in  Boston, 
16  ;  discouraged  by  affairs  in 
Canada,  19 ;  calls  for  reinforcements 
for  the  army  in  Canada,  20  ;  course 
of,  approved  by  Congress,  20 ;  hopes 
for  the  cause  in  Canada  revived, 
20  ;  Northern  army  under  com 
mand  of,  34 ;  sends  two  companies  of 
Colonel  Knox's  regiment  of  artil 
lery  to  Canada,  36  ;  arrives  in  New 
York,  37 ;  sends  Patterson's,  Bond's, 
Greaton's,  and  Poor's  regiments  to 
Canada,  38  ;  asks  Congress  whether 
he  shall  send  further  reinforce 
ments,  38  ;  sends  Irvine's,  Stark's, 
Wind's,  Dayton's,  Keed's,  and  part 
of  Wayne's  regiments  to  Canada, 
39  ;  parts  with  these  troops  reluct 
antly,  39  ;  writes  to  Scbuyler  that 
Quebec  must  be  reduced  before  the 
winter  is  over,  41  ;  condemns  con 
duct  of  officers  at  the  Cedars,  57  ; 
is  misled  by  Sullivan's  confident 
reports,  69  ;  comments  on  the  re 
treat  from  Quebec,  72  ;  comments 
on  battle  of  Three  Rivers,  78;  re 
conciled  to  evacuation  of  Canada, 


INDEX. 


233 


91  ;  disapproves  of  the  evacuation 
of  Crown  Point,  103  ;  comments  on 
General  Carleton's  order,  120  ;  dis 
courages  sectional  feeling  among 
the  troops,  123 ;  sends  Colonel 
Knox  to  Ticonderoga  for  ordnance, 
123  ;  orders  Continental  regiments 
from  Boston  to  Ticonderoga,  135  ; 
remarks  011  expiring  enlistments  at 
Ticonderoga,  155  ;  concerned  about 
the  insufficient  supplies  at  Ticonde 
roga,  179  ;  opinion  of  militia,  180  ; 
orders  troops  from  Ticonderoga  to 
join  his  army,  188  ;  orders  First 
Pennsylvania "Regiment  to  halt  at 
Pluckamin,  189  ;  army  of,  crosses 
the  Delaware,  189  •  visits  Ticonde 
roga,  197. 

WASHINGTON,  MARTHA,  arrival  of, 
at  Philadelphia,  13. 

WATERBURY,  General  DAVID,  ap 
pointed  second  officer  of  the  fleet, 
141  ;  joins  the  American  fleet  with 
the  row-galleys  Congress  and  Wash 
ington  at  Valcour  island,  150  ; 
takes  command  of  the  Washington, 
151 ;  commands  right  of  the  fleet, 
151;  at  Schuyler's  island,  167; 
taken  prisoner,  168 ;  release  of, 

WAYNE,  ANTHONY,  appointed  Col 
onel  of  the  Fourth  Pennsylvania 
Eegiment,  6  ;  regiment  of,  sent  to 
Canada,  39 ;  takes  part  in  the  battle 
of  Three  Eivers,  73 ;  regiment  of, 
at  Sorel,  80  ;  sent  to  cover  Arnold's 
retreat  from  Montreal,  89  ;  sent  in 
pursuit  of  savages  from  Isle  aux 
Noix,  95  ;  regimental  order  by,  97  ; 
regiment  of,  retreats  from  Canada, 
110 ;  in  command  of  permanent 
garrison  of  Ticonderoga,  188. 

WELSH   reservation   at   Eadnor,   vi. 

WHEELOCK,  Colonel  MOSES,  Massa 
chusetts  regiment  of  militia  under, 
arrives  at  Ticonderoga,  134 ;  regi 
ment  of,  returns  home,  191.  > 

WHEELWRIGHTS  arrive  at  Ticonde 
roga,  125. 

WHITCOMB,  Colonel  ASA,  attack  upon 
regiment  of,  at  Ticonderoga,  122 ; 
regiment  of,  arrives  at  Ticonde 
roga,  136  ;  regiment  of,  forms  ^part 
of  the  permanent  garrison  of  Ticon 
deroga,  188. 

WHITCOMB,  Lieutenant  BENJAMIN, 
150  ;  sent  as  a  scout  into  Canada, 


101;  kills  General  Gordon,  102; 
sent  by  General  Arnold  on  scout 
duty,  145. 

WHITTLESEY,  Captain  EZRA,  com 
pany  of  Mohican  Indians  under,  at 
Ticonderoga,  136. 

WIGGLESWORTH,  Doctor,  comments 
of,  on  sickness  at  Mount  Independ 
ence,  115. 

WIGGLESWORTH,  Colonel  EDWARD, 
Massachusetts  regiment  of  militia 
under,  arrives  at  Ticonderoga,  134  ; 
appointed  third  officer  of  the  fleet, 
149  ;  joins  the  fleet  at  Isle  la  Motte, 
149  ;  biographical  sketch  of,  149  ; 
commands  the  row-galley  Trumbull, 
151  ;  commands  left  of  the  fleet, 
151  ;  leads  retreat  of  the  fleet,  167  ; 
sent  by  General  Gates  to  ascertain 
the  designs  of  the  enemy,  188 ; 
regiment  of,  marches  home,  191. 

WILKINSON,  Captain  JAMES,  rein 
forces  Arnold  at  La  Chine  with  his 
company,  60. 

WILLARD,  Colonel  AARON,  regiment 
of,  marches  from  Boston  to  Ticonde 
roga,  136  ;  troops  under,  cut  down 
trees  across  the  Crown  Point  road, 
175  ;  regiment  of,  marches  for 
home,  191. 

WILLET,  AUGUSTIN,  appointed  Cap 
tain  of  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Eegiment,  5  ;  sketch  of,  8  ;  move 
ments  of  company  of,  21  ;  reaches 
the  lakes  with  his  company,  36. 

WILLETT,  MARINUS,  in  charge  of 
prisoners  for  Albany,  27. 

WILLIAMS,  Lieutenant-Colonel, mem 
ber  of  council  of  war  at  Descham- 
bault,  47. 

WILLIAMS,  WILLIAM,  appointed  Cap 
tain  of  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Eegiment,  5 ;  sketch  of,  7  ;  move 
ments  of  company  of,  21,  23. 

WILSON,  Captain  JAMES  A.,  captured 
by  the  British,  101. 

WIND,  WILLIAM,  regiment  of,  sent 
to  Canada,  39 ;  sent  to  Three  Eivers, 
71  ;  regiment  of,  at  Sorel,  80  ;  regi 
ment  of,  retreats  from  Canada,  110 ; 
returns  home,  137  ;  enlistment  of 
regiment  of,  expire^,  155 ;  greater 
part  refuse  to  remain,  155. 

WINDMILL  POINT,  American  fleet 
reaches,  144 ;  batteries  secretly 
erected  by  the  British  at,  148. 

WINGATE,  Colonel  JOSHUA,  regiment 


234 


INDEX. 


of  New  Hampshire  militia  under, 
arrives  at  Ticonderoga,  1 34  ;  regi 
ment  of,  leaves  Ticonderoga,  190. 

WING'S  TAVERN,  First  Pennsylvania 
Regiment  lodge  at,  25. 

WOOD,  Captain,  artillery  company  of, 
retreats  from  Canada,  111. 

WOOD,  JOSEPH,  in  charge  of  boats  at 
Three  Rivers,  73 ;  appointed  Col 
onel  of  the  Second  Pennsylvania 
Regiment,  138  ;  controversy  over 
promotion  of,  138. 

WOODBRIDGE,       Colonel      RuGGLES, 

133  ;  Massachusetts  regiment  of 
militia  under,  arrives  at  Ticonde 
roga,  134  ;  regiment  of,  returns 
home,  191. 

WOOSTER,  DAVID,  appointed  Briga 
dier-General,  5  ;  portrait  of,  28  ; 
leaves  Montreal  for  Quebec,  31 ; 


member  of  council  of  war  at 
Quebec,  42  ;  at  Deschambault,  47  ; 
is  relieved  and  returns  home,  68  ; 
death  of,  68. 

WYMAN,  Colonel  ISAAC,  regiment  of 
New  Hampshire  militia  under,  ar 
rives  at  Ticonderoga,  134 ;  regi 
ment  of,  leaves  Ticonderoga,  190. 

WYNKOOP,  Colonel  CORNELIUS,  or 
dered  to  send  boats  to  retreating 
American  army,  96 ;  regiment  of, 
stationed  at  Ticonderoga,  111  ;  part 
of  regiment  of,  sent  to  the  Mohawk, 

WYNKOOP,  Captain  JACOBUS,  com 
mands  schooner  Royal  Savage,  142  ; 
resists  the  authority  of  General 
Arnold,  143  ;  is  arrested  and  sent 
to  Albany,  143. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

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